Published Jan 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh’s road network remains in shambles despite repeated government deadlines and assurances. Pothole-ridden stretches across districts, including Polavaram and West Godavari, highlight the crisis. Minister BC Janardhan Reddy has set June as the new target under Mission Pothole-Free Andhra Pradesh, but skepticism persists as commuters endure unsafe, dust-choked roads and delayed repairs.
The condition of state highways and roads in Andhra Pradesh stands in stark contrast to the government’s glossy announcements and repeated assurances.
Despite Roads and Buildings Minister BC Janardhan Reddy’s directive in the past to complete repairs on a “war footing” by Sankranti little appears to have changed on the ground. Now with even Sankranti gone, the fresh deadline has been fixed to June with a total outlay of ₹2,526 crore.
Across the State, motorists are forced to dodge crater-like potholes, vehicles skid on uneven surfaces or kick up clouds of dust. The large rural stretches resemble off-road trails rather than public infrastructure for transportation.
A glaring example of is the approach road to the Polavaram project, one of the country’s largest national irrigation initiatives. Despite its strategic importance, access remains abysmal. A narrow strip that barely accommodates one-way traffic is being used as a two-way road, posing serious safety risks to commuters and heavy vehicles alike.
The situation is no better in West Godavari district. “There are virtually no proper roads anywhere,” said a senior journalist based in Rajahmundry. “The highways look presentable, but once you move to State roads, you begin to ‘appreciate’ their real beauty,” he remarked sarcastically.
“The road between Bhimavaram and Tadepalligudem has remained unmotorable for decades. Travelling on it is a punishment. Almost all roads in the district resemble a lunar surface.”
The road on Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage is now better. The road which connects West Godavari with East Godvari has fallen on bad days. The road has become pothole-ridden and the concrete has peeled from the retaining wall.
In erstwhile Prakasam district, travel between Inkollu and Parchur continues to be a punishing experience, with vehicles negotiating a pothole-riddled stretch. In Gajuwaka — erstwhile Visakhpatnam district — residents describe dust-laden roads choked with heavy vehicles as among the worst in the State.
Deadlines for repairs have been repeatedly extended — from December 2025 to Sankranti 2026 and now beyond — leaving citizens frustrated and lives at risk.
Reflecting the depth of the crisis, West Godavari Collector Chadalavani Nagarani, as recently as 27 December, released Rs 41.33 crore for repairing just 83.69 km of roads. The scale of funding for such limited stretches underscores the deplorable condition of the network.
The latest administrative push came on 22 January during a video conference review chaired by Minister Janardhan Reddy along with Special Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu. The Minister urged officials to complete development and repair works by June, stressing strict district-level monitoring.
He called for timely uploading of contractor bills and procedural reforms such as single-bid approvals and short-term tenders to prevent delays. “Works must be completed on a war footing, even on weekends and holidays,” Janardhan Reddy said, warning of strict action against negligent officials and insisting that quality standards would not be compromised.
According to Minister Janardhan Reddy, more than 9,000 km of roads were in “pathetic condition” under the previous YSRCP rule. By late 2025, the government launched Mission Pothole-Free Andhra Pradesh, sanctioning nearly Rs 2,526 crore to repair 5,471 km of roads with a 31 December deadline.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had pushed for the use of advanced materials and daily monitoring of works, but progress stalled. The deadline was later shifted to Sankranti for repairing 10,880 km in coastal districts. Yet, as of early January 2026, rural connectivity remains fragile, worsened by weather damage and poor execution.
Districts such as Tirupati, Chittoor, and Nellore together account for 1,202 accident blackspots on national highways, where inadequate signage, lighting and traffic management increase risks. Officials source said that nationally, road accidents claimed 1.72 lakh lives in 2025, with potholes, over speeding and substandard infrastructure cited as major causes.
In Andhra Pradesh, rural roads — spanning nearly 80,000 km but with only about 50 percent properly maintained — continue to aggravate the crisis.
While some initiatives show promise, they remain limited in scope. The “Road Doctor” machine introduced in Kakinada, which repairs potholes on-site using heating and levelling technology, went viral for its efficiency. However, its use is largely confined to urban areas, leaving village roads and interior thoroughfares in a state of neglect.
As Andhra Pradesh sets its sights on becoming pothole-free by June, skepticism remains widespread.
“Public trust grows only when works happen on the ground, not just in words,” Minister Janardhan Reddy himself observed during the review meeting. With economic growth closely hinging on road connectivity, the government is under pressure while marketing hte state as investment destination when the roads remain a mess.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
