Telangana’s Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said repair works on several damaged roads would begin within 10 to 15 days after Congress and opposition-party MLAs raised concerns over stalled projects, unpaid contractor dues and deteriorating connectivity in the Assembly.
During Zero Hour, Congress MLA from Manakondur K Satyanarayana said roads under the Roads and Buildings, Panchayat Raj and Hybrid Annuity Model systems had not seen work begin despite sanctions. He said the Gundlapochampally-Pothuru road remained in poor condition and warned that he would stage a hunger strike if repairs were not taken up.
Satyanarayana attributed the delay partly to the government’s failure to clear old payments owed to contractors. He appealed to the Finance Minister to release at least part of the outstanding dues so that sanctioned works could commence. The MLA said the condition of roads was affecting the government’s reputation in the constituencies where residents had been promised repairs.
Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Rangareddy said a central road in his constituency had been dug up for more than a year. The road connects nearly 10 villages, including Polkampally, Nayanampally, Dandumylaram and Rapole. Although repair work had been sanctioned, execution had not started, he said.
Rangareddy also raised concerns over the Nagarjunasagar-Nandi Wanaparthy, Medipally, Nanaknagar, Meerkhanpet and Future City roads. He said these roads had been sanctioned but remained pending, and demanded action against contractors who had not taken up the work.
Chevella MLA Kale Yadaiah said the Shankarpally-Marpally road via Mominpet was severely damaged. He also mentioned the Himayathnagar-Vikarabad, Thangedpally and Aluru roads, stating that officials had informed him that tenders had been floated but construction had not begun.
Kadiyam Srihari said the state government had introduced the Hybrid Annuity Model to improve the road network, with tenders floated for Roads and Buildings and Panchayat Raj roads. Letters of Acceptance had also been issued, he said, but agreements had not been signed. This had prevented contractors from commencing work, particularly as the working season was expected to begin in October.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said Letters of Acceptance had already been issued for the works. He said construction had not begun because of the rains during the season. The minister stated that action plans had been prepared and that the works would be taken up within the next 10 to 15 days.
