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Survey completed for 4,000 km of rural roads under HAM infrastructure initiative in Telangana

Survey completed for 4,000 km of rural roads under HAM infrastructure initiative in Telangana

The Hindu30-04-2025
The survey has been completed for approximately 4,000 kilometres of rural roads across nine erstwhile combined districts in Telangana as part of the government's ambitious plan to upgrade and expand road connectivity under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). It marks a key preparatory step in the HAM programme aimed at improving road links from village panchayats to mandal headquarters, district centres, and ultimately to the State capital.
With the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department appointed as the nodal agency for executing the project, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Dhanasari Anasuya (Seethakka) has been regularly conducting review meetings with officials to initiate the works at the earliest under this new model.
The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department's Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) will serve as the programme convenor, tasked with overseeing implementation and coordination across the three planned phases of work. Under the HAM project, the State government aims to develop 18,484 kilometres of Panchayat Raj (PR) roads and 12,000 kilometres of Roads and Buildings (R&B) roads. The works will be carried out in three phases — Phase I covering 7,393 km, Phase II covering 5,545.20 km, and Phase III covering 5,545.80 km.
To support the project's technical, financial, and legal evaluation, the government has appointed a consortium of AARVEE Associates and LEA Associates to conduct detailed feasibility studies. These consultants will commence district-wide assessments within two days by deploying teams across all districts. Road proposals have been finalised by department officials after obtaining consent from the MLAs in their respective constituencies.
According to the implementation schedule, Phase I works are set to begin in January 2026, followed by Phase II in March 2026, and Phase III in June 2026. The HAM model, already in use in several States, involves shared financing, with private contractors required to bear a portion of the project cost and undertake maintenance responsibilities for 15 years, without any government guarantee.
Minister Seethakka said she has instructed officials to expedite tendering, finalise agreements, and ensure all preparatory measures are completed in a timely manner. A special officer has been appointed at the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department's headquarters to monitor progress and ensure adherence to deadlines. The funding for the road projects will be finalised once the State Cabinet approves the DPRs being prepared by the consultancies.
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