Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

`Funds for NH-7 being diverted'

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, DEC. 30. Funds allotted for the development of the 750 km stretch of the National Highway-7 in Andhra Pradesh, as part of the North-South Corridor project, are reportedly being diverted to Tamil Nadu and Bihar, due to pressure being exerted by the UPA Government partners in the two States.

According to official sources, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is actively considering execution of the project in Andhra Pradesh under Build-Operate-Transfer scheme, in the event of the UPA partners in Tamil Nadu and Bihar succeeding in diverting the funds meant for the purpose to their States.

Upgradation

The NDA Government at the Centre had planned the North-South Corridor by upgrading the existing two-lane National Highway to 4/6-lane divided carriageways. The project was planned at an estimated cost of Rs. 31,000 crores, covering a distance of 6,195 km.

As part of the massive project, the NH-7, which intersects Andhra Pradesh connecting Karnataka and Maharashtra, was planned to be upgraded in the entire stretch of 750 km running through Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad districts in the State. Accordingly, the NHAI had called for pre-qualification of contractors and Rs. 3,000 crores was sanctioned in September 2004.

However, as per the administrative sanction, only about 10 per cent of high-density traffic stretches are viable for execution under BOT and the rest with Government funds.

As the entire 750 km of the NH-7 in the State runs through the extremely backward and under-developed areas of Rayalaseema and Telangana, the flow of traffic is low and it may be unviable for the private operators to undertake the project on BOT.

The TDP Whip and Uravakonda legislator, P. Keshav, wrote to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in the regard recently and requested him to prevail upon the Centre not to execute the project under BOT. He explained that in the larger interests of the State the BOT proposal should be opposed.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

`Funds for NH-7 being diverted'
45 more cell phone towers planned in Anantapur
Action against seed dealer likely

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu