Kurnur: The regional government is expanding to Guntur to Kurnool’s 340C national highway, and is currently conducting land acquisitions within the Kurnool City. The 2.3 km of the expressway passes through the city, and officials have set a May 16 deadline for landowners to submit their documents to facilitate early completion of this section.
In a meeting four months ago, locals called on the government to reduce the proposed road width from 120 feet to 100 feet to protect valuable residential and commercial properties. On these issues, the regional government has obtained government approval to reduce the width to 100 feet. As part of the acquisition process, land and building owners have been required to submit relevant ownership documents to Kurnool Municipal Corporation.
Co-collector Dr. B. Navya said compensation for vacant land will be provided through transferable development rights (TDR) bonds, while the Ministry of Roads and Buildings will compensate the buildings based on valuations based on the base area. She stressed that the submitted documents would be quickly verified and cleared.
Municipal Commissioner S. Ravindra Babu said the government’s decision to reduce the width of the road has benefited landowners, urging all landowners to submit their documents immediately. So far, about 90 property owners have complied.
The NH-340C project covers a total of 66.115 km, starting from Kurnool, passing through Gargeyapuram, Brahmanakotkur and Nandikotkur, and then adding the ATMAKUR-DORNALA extension. The route spans the Kurnool, Nandyal and Prakasam regions, and the project is performed by Andhra Pradesh Roads & Buildings Department.
However, people have attracted attention to the quality of construction work in the highway section, especially in the Kurnur area. Despite a budget of Rs 1,179 crore, the report shows that parts of the newly built four-lane road have suffered erosion due to the use of unqualified materials. The recent rain, especially the extension from Nannur to Nandikotkur, the soil of the embankment has been washed away. The drain pipes built from Nannur Toll Plaza to Jupadu Bungalow were also damaged, and the cement structure showed signs of wear.
A senior official from the R&B National Highway Force admitted the error and confirmed that an internal investigation was being conducted to assess quality issues and take corrective measures.
