In order to boost the transport of Telangana, the State government is improving the condition of roads in the state. With the help of Government of India, Telangana government is trying for a better network of highways in and around the State, says Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings, Government of Telangana in an interview with Harshal Desai of Elets News Network (ENN).
How do you rate the overall transport and road infrastructure within Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana? Please elaborate.
The state of Telangana is striving towards improved network of roads to boost the transport and road infrastructure and hassle free movement of people and goods in the State. The outer ring road facility has made the mobility of vehicles very efficient.
Hyderabad has an excellent road infrastructure that adds to the city’s attractiveness. What do you think about it?
In Hyderabad city, we have two types of roads, first — the national highways which are passing through the city, we have six of them. Second, we have roads belonging to the municipal corporation. Both kinds of roads are very well maintained and necessary modifications are done systematically. Further, “White Topping” is a new technology of providing cement concrete overlay on the existing damaged and distressed BT roads.
The city roads are also linked to the outer ring roads through radial roads, which pass through the city. Thus, a good concept has been developed to improve the roads in Hyderabad.
What are your major plans? How significant has been the Government of India’s role in the overall road development in state? We are paying attentions to the road infrastructure everywhere in the state. As you already aware Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has sanctioned 8,000 crore worth projects for development of national highways in Telangana. When the state was formed, Telangana had about 2500 kilometre of national highways but now the state has around 5000 kilometre of national highways. We actually converted 2500 of state highways into national highways. Government of India has helped us by sanctioning the amount for the improvement of national and state highways.
Further, the state government will like to use the money to improve the condition of national highways. Roads, which are not national highways, are also maintained by the state government. We have already initiated the modification wherever necessary and have also started doubling of the single roads.
We want to take up road as the growth engine for the development of the state. A good road infrastructure will surely boost the state economy.
We have also introduced mWallet System which allows you to keep all your important documents in your mobile phone eliminating the need to carry the physical papers.
Please share your views on the Hyderabad – Warangal road connectivity?
Warangal’s road development goes hand in hand with Hyderabad. We are glad to update that – to some extent – the work has been completed up to Bhongir. From Warangal to Bhongir, which is under National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the work has just started.
What are your views on road safety?
Road safety has two components – awareness – where people are required to follow the safety rules and regulations, and engineering – which ensures good condition of roads, spacious U-Turns and other technical elements. We are focusing on both the aspects. The department is already organising different awareness programmes. We have also identified black spots – which need to be modified to ensure better visibility, convenient U-turns and pothole free roads.
We also have directed hospitals to help road accident victims without wasting time in asking irrelevant questions to the victims and people who are accompanying them to hospitals.
Linking parking space and registration of four wheelers is indeed a great idea. Will you please elaborate how it would help solve the parking space problem in the city? How significant will the people’s participation be in the success of this mechanism?
This is a good move towards easing the traffic problems faced by the citizens in the city. Making mandatory provisions for parking facility with the registration of vehicles will bring out free movement of traffic in the state. It also will enhance road discipline and discourage purchase of vehicles without a need.
Please brief us on the innovative measures taken by the transport department in the state?
We have about nine million vehicles. And every day, thousands of vehicles are being added, their registration process is completed and licenses are allotted. In this field, lot of computerization has taken place; which made registration process very convenient for the public to obtain any license, get the registration and insurance process. We have also introduced mWallet System which allows you to keep all your important documents in your mobile phone eliminating the need to carry the physical papers. So, such innovative measures have been implemented in the transport department. As I mentioned earlier, Transport and Road are the two crucial segment, we are focussing on a lot.