Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday (16 October) inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 16 National Highways projects with a total length of 1411 km worth Rs 15,592 crore in Andhra Pradesh, an official release said.

The event was presided by the Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Union minister of states Gen (Retd) Dr V K Singh and G Kishan Reddy, Ministers from the State, Members of Parliaments, MLAs and senior officers from the Centre and the state, the release said.

Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that the length of National Highways in Andhra Pradesh before May 2014 was 4193 Km, which has now increased to 6860 Km. Thus, there has been increase of 2667 Km (64 per cent) in NH length during past 6 years.

He informed that works costing Rs 34,100 crore are under DPR Stage and targeted for completion by 2024, while works costing Rs 25,440 crore are under implementation.

The Union Minister further said that 50-60 per cent progress has been achieved in projects costing Rs 18,100 crore. Gadkari invited the Andhra Chief Minister to Delhi at an early date to discuss and resolve pending issues. He assured his total support in sanctioning maximum number of developmental projects for the State.

He informed that 5000 Km of National Highways are being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the State. In addition, 400 Km of Port Connectivity Roads will also be developed under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

The minister said that the Bharatmala Pariyojana was conceptualized through a scientific study of freight traffic movement between key origin-destination pairs to enable efficient freight and passenger movement. Around 35,000 km of National Highways are being developed as a part of Bharatmala Pariyojana in the country, he added.