Roads Built With Public Money Show Early Signs of Damage, Says Chirla Jaggireddy

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) district president and former MLA Chirla Jaggireddy has questioned the quality of road works in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district after newly constructed roads developed cracks and other defects within a few months.

Jaggireddy inspected roads in Indupalli and Mukkamala areas and alleged that works taken up with public money were showing serious signs of poor construction. He also pointed to what he described as indications of irregularities at the sites and sought accountability from the officials responsible for supervising the projects.

During the inspection, he examined the road from Eedharapalli Bridge towards Mukkamala and another stretch from Encounter Bridge towards Indupalli Garuvu. According to Jaggireddy, the road towards Indupalli and Garuvu was taken up with around Rs 2 crore under MGNREGA funds, while the main Mukkamala road had an estimated project cost of about Rs 11.50 crore.

He alleged that some of the newly laid roads had deteriorated within just three months, with cracks, peeling surfaces and damage to retaining walls visible at different locations. Jaggireddy questioned the role of the Quality Control and Vigilance wings, along with executive and assistant engineers and other engineering officials responsible for monitoring the works.

He also raised concerns over the impact of the construction on farmers, saying water in canals had been stopped during the road works, causing difficulties for the agricultural community. When projects affect farmers and involve substantial public expenditure, he said, officials should ensure strict monitoring of both execution and quality.

Jaggireddy further alleged that the road constructed with MGNREGA funds in the Indupalli area appeared to serve limited interests rather than providing proper connectivity to villages, colonies, hamlets and major roads. He questioned the purpose of constructing a road only up to a particular point without ensuring broader connectivity.

The former MLA demanded that authorities make public the sanction documents, estimated costs, contractor details, quality-testing reports, measurement books and payment records related to the two projects.

He called for senior officials to personally inspect the roads and arrange independent technical quality tests. Jaggireddy also sought a detailed technical and vigilance inquiry into why the roads deteriorated so quickly, why the retaining wall was damaged and how the works were supervised.

If the inquiry establishes quality lapses or loss of public money, he demanded action against the contractors, officials and others found responsible, in accordance with the rules.