Road connectivity to all tribal villages in Visakhapatnam by 2025: Collector

In order to improve the road connectivity in the tribal areas near Visakhapatnam, the district officials are to lay down new roads at all villages. Visakhapatnam District Collector, Dr. A Mallikarjuna IAS, has set down a deadline of 2025 for all these roads to be completed. Under this cumulative project, more than 4,400 km of roads have to be laid down. He was chairing a meeting with the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) officials, village panchayats, Roads & Buildings Department and Rural Water Supply Department. 

During the meeting, issues like road connectivity, water supply and electricity were tabled. The District Collector asked the officials to establish road connectivity to the interior tribal villages of the Visakhapatnam Agency, at an accelerated pace. He stated that all these roads should be completed before 2025. The Collector also asked for a report on the electricity connectivity and drinking water supply to these villages. 

Additionally, ITDA officials were asked to install AP Fibernet services in order to provide a stable internet connection to people in 110 Grama Sachivalayams that have been identified in the agency areas. 

In the past few months, a lot of villagers from these areas have complained about poor connectivity and the difficulties they are facing. Due to a lack of proper roads, ambulances are unable to reach these villages, in the case of an emergency. Over the years, many pregnant women in the tribal areas have had to go through a lot of trouble to deliver their children. Some pregnant women have even died in this perilous journey. while children are having to take up dangerous routes in order to get to their schools.