New roads mooted in Maoist-hit areas

HYDERABAD: The central government is likely to give sanction for laying 138 new roads and building 26 bridges in the state at a cost of Rs 2,200 crore under the Centre’s scheme for infrastructure in left-wing extremism-affected districts.The proposals are in the final stage of processing and will get approval by the Union cabinet in a few days. The roads and building department has prepared proposals for laying 138 roads and building 26 bridges works in Maoist-affected areas of East Godavari, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Visakapatnam districts under the scheme and sent them to the Union ministry of transport recently for approval.The central government has identified some most Maoist-affected districts in the country and Khammam figures among them.As part of the scheme to develop Maoist-affected areas to curb Maoist influence on the people there, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 1,080 crore to take up 29 works in Khammam district a few months ago.Work is in progress except in respect of three.The Centre asked the state to send some more proposals and the stae R&B department prepared proposals entailing an expenditure of Rs 3,450 crore but the budget was reduced to Rs 2,200 crore.The police department has proposed laying of some roads on a priority in remote and forest areas for providing them easy access to hunt down Maoists. R&B chief engineer (left wing projects) G Jagannadha Rao said government was awaiting Centre’s approval of phase II proposals.