At a time Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is intensifying his efforts to revive old glory to Amaravati capital and complete constructions, that were stalled during YCP regime, the closure of National Highways Authority (NHAI) Project Implement Unit (PIU) in Amravati raising eyebrow on the intention of the Center.
As TDP emerged as a key partner for the survival of Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the center, Naidu is expecting, unlike earlier time this time, Center will extend its honest cooperation for completion of Amaravati capital. Only, last week he met Prime Minister Modi and urged a Rs 50,000 financial package from the center for the capital, of which he asked to allocate Rs 15,000 in this year’s budget.
The PIU was set up in Mangalagiri during the previous TDP regime to facilitate the NHAI authorities to formulate DPRs and other activities. Mainly the design of access control greenfield expressway DPRs from Anantapur to Amaravati was entrusted to this unit.
A project director has also been appointed for this highway. With the change of government in 2019, Amaravati ORR and Anantapur-Amaravati Expressway were sidelined. Then other tasks were assigned to Amaravati PIU.
Only last week, the Center approved the construction of Amaravati Outer Ring Road. Construction of Vijayawada East Bypass and some other projects were also given green signal. On the other hand, AP BJP President Daggubati Purandeshwari also said that the Center has given green signal to Amaravati with an investment of Rs 25,000 crore.
But, surprisingly now a decision was taken to merge PIU with its Vijayawada office. The Center has given green signal to take up important National Highway projects for Amaravati. But the latest decision taken by NHAI is contrary to that. The closure of the PIU at the center of Amaravati is a matter of concern.
In fact the Center accepted 189 KMs Outer Ring Road proposal made by Chandrababu Naidu during his previous regime itself and the alignment was also finalized.
Official sources are stating that there is a need for a special NHAI unit office to ensure the finalization of alignments, preparation of DPRs, land acquisition, and the tendering process at speed for these projects.
