Amaravati, April 8 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasized on Wednesday that public transport must be affordable and efficient, advocating increased use of electric buses.
Reviewing roads and highways, the chief minister noted that clean fuel reduces costs and said solar power management has cut electricity procurement costs by about Re 1 per unit.
"Public transport should be made affordable and efficient with greater adoption of electric buses playing a crucial role in reducing operational costs and improving service delivery," Naidu said in an official release.
He called for further fuel cost optimisation, observing EV buses currently cost around Rs 72 per km, and directed officials to study ways to reduce costs.
Naidu highlighted expanding charging infrastructure, standardising batteries and gradually converting all buses into AC electric vehicles.
He also called for promoting e-cycles as mass transport.
The CM stressed improving highway connectivity to ports to boost economic activity and link Andhra Pradesh with other regions.
He noted that of 45,433 km of roads, about 10,238 km require annual maintenance and directed immediate pothole repairs.
Naidu suggested adopting suitable models for black cotton soil regions and exploring durable materials for canal-side roads.
Keeping Godavari Pushkarams in view, he directed road works in Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts and sought special Central funds.
He emphasised connecting ports and developing East-West corridors to cut logistics costs, noting 73 per cent cargo moves by road.
He said improved connectivity will accelerate industrial growth, while ring roads and new highways will expand economic activity.
He also stressed connecting ports such as Mulapeta, Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Krishnapatnam with highway networks.
The CM said improved road connectivity would accelerate economic development, support industrial and horticultural growth.
He further highlighted the need for ring roads around major cities to expand economic activity.
Naidu mentioned key upcoming projects including the Kharagpur-Amaravati Greenfield Highway, Hyderabad-Srisailam-Dornala Highway and Kalwakurthy-Nandyal Highway.
He said that around 1,335 km of national highways are expected to be completed within two years.