Nitin Gadkari mum on much awaited Anantapur and Amaravathi highway

Union Minister for Water Resources, Waterways, Highways, Shipping and Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari along with Vice President Venkaiah Naidu participated in the inaugural ceremony of laying the foundation stone of waterway at Muktyala to Vijayawada on Tuesday.

While addressing the people Gadkari expressed his happiness over the ambitious project National Waterways 4, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s vision for the state and also the prestigious Polavaram project.

But he failed to address the issue eagerly awaited by Chandrababu and TDP (Telugu Desam Party) leaders - the national highway between Anantapur and Amaravathi.

Chandrababu’s primary promise to the people of Telangana is a straight Highway connecting Rayalaseema and the new capital Amaravathi. He repeatedly announced the various benefits of such a highway to the Rayalaseema people and connecting the new capital to Rayalaseema.

But the National Highway is now in a dilemma as the centre is willing to build the highway if the state would raise the necessary land expenses which are not feasible as the state is in no capacity to spend hundreds of crores of rupees. State is planning to ask the centre for the required funds.

The TDP leaders expected a clear promise from Nitin regarding the highway after Chandrababu’s recent trip to Delhi. But the leaders on the dais were disappointed when no promise of road came forth.

Many of the TDP leaders bought land near the proposed highway spending huge amounts to profit from the highway. Now they are disappointed with lack of any clarity on the highway.

• Nitin Gadkari
• Chandrababu Naidu
• Amaravathi
• Venkaia