Describing completion of the Polavaram project before 2019 as “a difficult task”, Mr. Gadkari said the Centre would extend all cooperation in meeting the deadline set by the State government.
He was responding to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s request to extend necessary support to the State government in achieving its target before the general election in 2019, at a foundation stone laying ceremony for National Highways (NH) projects here on Tuesday.
“It is difficult task but no effort would be spared to achieve the target and complete the project on time. That is my assurance to you,” Mr. Gadkari said.
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu laid foundation stone and dedicated 13 National Highway (NH) projects costing ₹4,153 crore and an inland waterway project here on Tuesday.
Mr. Gadkari said the Union government was giving top priority to Andhra Pradesh. The NH network would be doubled from 4,193 km in 2014. The Central government proposes to invest ₹12 lakh crore in AP on improving the NH network. It would give a boost to the development of the State, he said.
The Union Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed to the development of Andhra Pradesh and the Union government was also accelerating its infrastructure projects. Several port related projects would be taken up under under the Sagaramala programme. The capacity of the Visakhapatnam port would be expanded. The Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor was another major project which would benefit the State enormously and it would be taken up expeditiously, he said.