AP CM promises world-class roads

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu says all the roads in the state would be upgraded to international standards.

Directing the roads and buildings department officials to take suitable steps in this regard, Naidu said Rs 3.5 billion has been allocated for the project in 1997-98. He claimed that the state made the highest budgetary allocation for roads in the country.

The chief minister said the state would get a loan of Rs 22.94 billion -- Rs 21.44 billion from the World Bank and Rs 1.5 billion from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development -- to upgrade 47,251 km of roads in the state.

Disclosing that the funds crunch would affect the project, Naidu asked the officials to set an example for other states by laying world-class roads.