Social Welfare Minister Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy announced that the State government has released ₹920 crore for the construction of roads in rural areas of combined Prakasam district during the next three years under the Integrated Horticultural Development Project (IHDP).

The State government released the huge funds for Prakasam and Markapuram districts, along with Rayalaseema districts, under the IHDP. The government has taken steps to develop irrigation, horticulture crops, and road connectivity through this project. As part of the project, priority will also be given to the development of rural roads, Veligonda phase-2, Korishapadu, and Paleru reservoir works.

“The IHDP will change the appearance of rural roads in the two districts. With this project, the cultivation of horticultural crops will increase here and this region will become a horticulture hub. It will directly and indirectly provide job opportunities to the local youth. We will be grateful to the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan for paying special attention to this region,” the Minister said.

The Minister on Monday inspected the works of the SC Girls Hostel being constructed at a cost of ₹6 crore at Santhapeta in Ongole. He urged the officials not to compromise on the construction quality and directed them to complete the works soon and make them available to the students by the start of the new academic year.

“As many as 25 new hostels are being constructed in the State at a cost of ₹86 crore under Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna (PM-AJAY). Another ₹200 crore is being spent on repairs and construction of additional buildings for hostels in with SASCI (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) funds,” Mr. Swamy said.

“The State government has repaired 700 hostels with ₹143 crore. We have built several toilets in Ambedkar Gurukuls and welfare hostels with ₹58 crore. We are building a special hostel for differently-abled students in Ongole with ₹3 crore. We are providing free coaching to 450 aspirants of Civil Services in Tirupati, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam study circles,” he informed.

“Along with these initiatives, we will set up new study circles in Ongole and Amalapuram. We have provided free training in German language to 250 nursing students and taken steps to create job opportunities in Germany. We have increased the number of IIT and NEET Excellence Centres from three to 13. Another 12 will be added to set up an overall 25 centres across 25 districts,” he added.