Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a bid to transform Mangalagiri into a model constituency with pothole-free roads, Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh launched a 100-day challenge, urging municipal officials to take it up as a mission. Marking a major step in urban cleanliness and infrastructure development, he flagged off five advanced sanitation and road repair vehicles worth Rs.4.40 crore on Monday.

At a ceremonial event held at his residence in Undavalli, Minister Lokesh unveiled two state-of-the-art refuse compactor trucks, two sweeping machines, and a modern pothole repair vehicle. These vehicles, commonly seen in metropolitan cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, have now been introduced for the first time in Andhra Pradesh by the Mangalagiri Municipal Corporation (MTMC).

The Rs.1.91 crore refuse compactor trucks will now handle the transfer of waste collected by autos and tractors to the dumping yard, replacing older, less efficient systems. The pothole repair vehicle, worth Rs.1.48 crore, will be deployed across blacktop (BT) roads to ensure timely patchwork. Additionally, two sweeping machines valued at Rs.1.2 crore will assist in maintaining clean city roads.

Minister Lokesh stressed that these advanced vehicles would significantly contribute to achieving a Swachh Mangalagiri. He called on civic authorities to embrace the 100-day challenge and ensure no potholes remain across the constituency. “After 100 days, if any potholes are spotted, citizens should be able to report them via WhatsApp or the Swachh Andhra mobile app,” he instructed.

Responding to the Minister's call, MTMC officials pledged to accept the challenge and vowed to make Mangalagiri the No. 1 city in cleanliness. The initiative aims not only to enhance road infrastructure but also to instill a proactive, responsive sanitation system with citizen participation.