A newly constructed BT (blacktop) road in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district has become the center of controversy after it was washed away just two days after its inauguration. Built to connect Chinnapudilla (Panyam mandal) and Gundala (Dhone mandal), the road collapsed after a spell of light rainfall, raising serious questions about construction quality and governance under the TDP-led coalition government.
The road, estimated to have cost ₹4 crore, was recently inaugurated by TDP MLA Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy. Ironically, while the road disintegrated, the foundation plaque bearing his name remained intact — sparking viral trolling and biting satire online. One trending comment summed it up: “The road is gone, but the plaque stood strong – priorities?”
Locals were quick to voice anger, blaming both the contractor and government officials for using substandard materials and bypassing quality checks. With rural roads being a long-standing issue in Andhra Pradesh — plagued by corruption and politicized tendering — the incident has rekindled public frustration and demands for accountability.
Critics have also called out the Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, who oversees rural development, urging him to enforce strict quality monitoring, contractor accountability, and transparent infrastructure practices. Opposition parties have used the collapse as a symbol of what they call “photo-op governance” — where flashy inaugurations take precedence over lasting development.
Andhra Pradesh’s rural roads have long faced issues of corruption, poor material usage, and politicized tendering. As per infrastructure norms, any road construction should withstand basic weather impact and must go through field testing before commissioning. The collapse suggests this process may have been bypassed or falsified.
Citizens are now demanding an independent investigation, blacklisting of the firm, and reconstruction without additional taxpayer burden.
