HYDERABAD, February 5: Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat with R&B officials on Wednesday regarding the construction of Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) roads. The Minister ordered officials to expedite the process of building missing link roads and road upgrades, emphasising adherence to standards and regulations.
He instructed that road construction should prioritise the most deteriorated roads, especially those causing public distress, and urged that consultants be selected to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The Minister also emphasised that roads should be developed in compliance with government guidelines, ensuring proper facilities such as dividers, lighting, and road widening.
Venkat Reddy stressed that the companies taking on HAM road projects must ensure quality maintenance for 15 years, with each engineer thoroughly monitoring the work to avoid substandard construction. He further urged officials to identify roads that were once dirt roads but are now being upgraded to BT roads with necessary forest clearances.
The Minister warned against any compromises on the quality of work in public infrastructure projects, stating that substandard work would lead to immediate termination of contracts. He also dismissed any arguments by consultants asking for more time for HAM road construction, pointing out the risks to public safety due to delays.
He ordered that road construction work should be expedited, with surveys and pre-tender processes to begin immediately. The government is keen on completing roadworks within two to three months, and the R&B Department is expected to grant fast approvals.
Venkat Reddy also instructed that a comprehensive selection process be carried out, involving local public representatives at the district level to select HAM roads, and that immediate steps be taken to initiate repairs on roads already identified for upgrades.
Finally, the Minister mentioned that promotions for engineers and officials in the R&B department were underway, with promotions for senior engineers scheduled by the end of the month.
This review meeting included officials such as R&B Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj, Special Secretary Dasari Harichandana, Chief Engineers Tirumala, Mohan Nayak, and other district officials.
