Andhra Pradesh Minister for Roads and Buildings BC Janardhan Reddy announced that the central government had sanctioned Rs 65.85 billion for the development of seven national highway projects covering 384 kilometres in the state. The projects include the highways connecting Kodumuru with Pericherla, Sangameshwaram with Nallakaluva, Nandyal with Kurnool, Vempally with Chagalamarri, Gorantla with Hindupur, Muddanuru with B Kothapalli and Pendurthy with Bavardha.

Reddy stressed that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had attached particular importance to securing these funds through coordination with officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the Road Transport Ministry, among others.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Reddy explained that these seven projects, which were initially allocated to Andhra Pradesh under the Bharat Mala project, had been delayed due to various reasons. However, he noted that his recent visit to Delhi and meeting with Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had been successful in reviving them. The minister also mentioned that the Standing Committee on Finance had removed these projects from the Bharat Mala initiative and included them in the National Highways Ordinary Programme.