AP CM Sets 2029 as a target for National Highway Completion

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure the completion of national highway projects worth ₹1.40 lakh crore in the State by 2029 . He emphasised the need for a time-bound action plan to fast-track projects being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of national and State highway projects at his camp office on Thursday and issued instructions on expanding the national highway network, increasing road density, constructing new roads, and accelerating the progress of ongoing NH projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Stressing the need to reduce freight transportation costs, Mr. Naidu instructed officials to connect key ports—Mulapeta, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Krishnapatnam—with national highways and ensure hinterland connectivity to facilitate cargo movement from neighbouring States. He said Andhra Pradesh should set a national benchmark in completing road projects and directed that existing two-lane highways be upgraded to four- and six-lane roads.

The Chief Minister noted that national highway works worth ₹42,194 crore are currently under execution and directed that they be completed by December next year. He also instructed officials to complete the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor by 2027 and prepare DPRs for the Kharagpur–Amaravati Greenfield Expressway at the earliest.

Expansion of State Road Network

The Chief Minister instructed the Roads and Buildings Department to prepare plans for further expansion of the State’s road network. Officials informed him that 6,054 km of roads are being constructed at a cost of ₹2,500 crore . He directed that the 45,000 km of State and district roads be maintained pothole-free and approved road projects covering 709 km under the PPP mode.