Andhra Pradesh Needs Rs 1,430 Crore To Rebuild 352 Bridges, Says State Minister

Andhra Pradesh Roads and Buildings Minister B C Janardhan Reddy on Tuesday (23 September) told the Assembly that the state requires an estimated Rs 1,430 crore to reconstruct 352 bridges, news agency PTI reported.

Responding to questions raised by several MLAs, the minister said the state is working to mobilise funds for the project under the 16th Finance Commission,

“Nearly 1,430 crore is needed to reconstruct 352 bridges across the state. We are working towards rebuilding those bridges with 16th Finance Commission funds,” Reddy was quoted as saying by PTI.

Reddy acknowledged that the concerns voiced by legislators regarding the poor condition of roads and bridges were valid, but he laid the blame on the previous YSR Congress Party government.

He alleged that the previous government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had failed to develop any new roads during its tenure between 2019 and 2024.

According to him, negligence in maintenance during that period caused severe inconvenience to the public.

Highlighting the steps taken by the current TDP-led NDA government, Reddy said that one of the first measures after coming to power was addressing the widespread issue of potholes.

The NDA government took up the task of fixing potholes at a cost of Rs 1,080 crore, the minister said.

The minister also pointed out that the YSRCP government left behind unpaid loans worth Rs 1,980 crore from the New Development Bank (NDB).

He said those funds, if utilised, could have supported the construction of nearly 2,500 km of roadways.

Alongside bridge reconstruction and pothole repairs, the state is now prioritising the development of single-layer roads under the directives of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Reddy further revealed that a dedicated corporation will soon be established to speed up road development and ensure timely completion of projects.

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