The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Make NH-9 a four-laner: ATA

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Make NH-9 a four-laner: ATA

Staff Reporter

Bids already invited: Jaipal Reddy

SURYAPET (NALGONDA DT): The urgent need of converting National Highway - 9 into a four-laner was strongly felt by Non-Resident Indians at a public meeting held by the American Telugu Association (ATA) as part of its two-day festival near Suryapet on Thursday.

ATA president Chandra Reddy Gavva spoke of the NH-9 as a literal death trap. Elaborating the developmental activities taken up by the ATA, he said: “Expansion of NH-9 has been on the card for the last two-and-a-half years. It is so unfortunate that many persons are losing their lives in the accidents on the road.”

He appealed to people’s representatives to convert it into a four-laner at the earliest. Some NRIs also expressed their displeasure over the maintenance of the road during the informal conversations.

In response to Mr. Chandra Reddy’s observations, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy declared that bids had already been invited for the expansion of the NH-9.

“This programme will be launched in 2008,” he said. Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, who chaired the meeting, also observed that works would be taken up soon.

Mr. Chandra Reddy declared that “Telugu is the caste and religion” of the ATA members amid a round of applause.

Encouraging others to donate money for the development of their villages, he said: “Vunchukovatamtone vastundi aayaasam…ichhukovatamalone vundi vullasam (avarice leads to weariness and contribution brings happiness).” He declared that the ATA wished to bring prosperity to all villages.

In an oblique reference to the real estate boom in the State, the ATA president further said: “About ten years ago, NRIs carried much significance (thanks to the money they made abroad) but nowadays, the land owners are getting very rich. They too can contribute their might for the development.”

The Sports and IT Minister R. Damodar Reddy said that the government would take up developmental works by bearing 50 per cent of the cost of the works, if the NRIs came forward with the matching contribution of the other 50 per cent.

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