Gadkari announces Rs 41,000 crore for Telangana

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday announced road projects worth Rs 41,000 crore for Telangana, including two Express Highways from the state capital Hyderabad to Bengaluru in Karnataka and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.

"The total package for Telangana is Rs 41,000 crore.This is not the final figure. It is still open for discussion. And if any new National Highway is recommended from the leaders of Telangana or from the state government or from our (BJP) leaders, we will think positively and we will support Telangana as a new state," Gadkari said.

The Union Road Transport and Highways Minister today laid the foundation stone of 4-lane of Yadgir and Warangal section of NH-202 (new NH-163) of length 99 km costing Rs 1,424 crore. He said the government will soon prepare the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for two Express Highways connecting Hyderabad with Bengaluru and Vijayawada.

"The Telangana portion of cost of construction for the two Express Highways would be Rs 16,000 crore covering 190 km for Vijayawada and 210 km for Bengaluru Express Highways," the minister said.

According to him, making of inland waterways would be the NDA government's top priority. He also assured that his ministry would take up works of making waterways in Telangana, once the related proposals are cleared by Parliament.