Andhra Pradesh's Roads and Buildings Minister, BC Janardhan Reddy, announced that the Central government had sanctioned Rs 65.85 billion for the development of seven national highway projects spanning 384 kilometres in the state. The projects include the highways connecting Kodumuru to Pericherla, Sangameshwaram to Nallakaluva, Nandyal to Kurnool, Vempally to Chagalamarri, Gorantla to Hindupur, Muddanuru to B Kothapalli, and Pendurthy to Bavardha. Reddy emphasised that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had placed special importance on securing these funds through coordination with officials from the Prime Minister's Office and the Union Ministry of Road Transport, among others. During a press conference at the Secretariat, Reddy explained that these seven projects, initially allocated to Andhra Pradesh under the Bharat Mala project, had faced delays for various reasons. However, he noted that his recent visit to Delhi and meeting with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had been successful in reviving them. The minister also mentioned that the Standing Finance Committee had removed these projects from the Bharat Mala initiative and included them in the National Highways Ordinary Programme.