Telangana HAM plan grants ₹2,000 crore for Nalgonda roads
HYDERABAD: The proposed Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) road project has triggered allegations of imbalance in district-wise allocations. A major share of the works has reportedly gone to the erstwhile Nalgonda district, represented by the Roads and Buildings Minister.
Out of the ₹10,000-crore total project value, about ₹2,000 crore has been sanctioned for that district alone. Under the first phase of the HAM initiative, 32 packages covering 5,566 km of roads have been taken up with an estimated cost of ₹10,547 crore. Of this, ₹6,152 crore has been earmarked for widening 1,791 km of roads and ₹4,395 crore for upgrading 3,775 km.
Nalgonda, Khammam get lion’s share of first-phase works
Critics allege that the selection of roads reflects political bias. Of the 400 roads approved, 66 are in the erstwhile Nalgonda district and 47 in the erstwhile Khammam district, represented by another minister.
Together, Nalgonda and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts have been allotted ₹2,041.54 crore for developing 939 km of roads. Similarly, Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts will see works worth ₹1,298.76 crore covering 680.89 km.
In comparison, Adilabad has just 18 roads, Jayashankar Bhupalpally 11, Karimnagar 20, Mancherial 12, Siddipet 25 and Wanaparthy 19. Siddipet has been sanctioned ₹392 crore for 25 roads, Karimnagar ₹346 crore for 20, and Adilabad ₹571 crore for 18.
Officials acknowledge that the condition of roads across the state is poor, with many single-lane stretches needing upgrades to double lanes. The government has decided to connect villages to mandal headquarters and mandal headquarters to district centres with double-lane roads.
‘Works being taken up in phases’
Roads and Buildings (R&B) officials said the HAM works are being executed in phases, with the first phase covering only 32 packages. “Roads were chosen based on priority, not political considerations,” an official said. “Districts with fewer works in the first phase will be covered in subsequent rounds,” the official added.
