Monsoon Alert: Komatireddy Orders Continuous Surveillance on Vulnerable Roads and Bridges Across Telangana

With the onset of the monsoon season, Telangana Minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has directed officials of the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department to accord top priority to public safety and ensure uninterrupted road connectivity across the State during heavy rains and floods. The minister also ordered continuous surveillance on vulnerable roads, bridges and culverts and announced a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for monsoon preparedness and flood response.

In a statement issued on Monday, the minister said the SOP had been prepared in line with the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The SOP aims to minimise damage to roads, bridges, culverts and other public infrastructure while ensuring a swift response during emergencies.

Officials Directed to Remain Alert From June to October

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy stated that all officials from Superintending Engineers to Assistant Engineers must remain fully alert and available in the field from June to October.

He said the department should be prepared to tackle any situation arising from heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.

Emergency Equipment to Be Kept Ready

The minister instructed officials to keep the following emergency equipment and materials ready in advance:

• JCBs
• Excavators
• Tippers
• De-watering pumps
• Sandbags
• Aggregates
• Bitumen
• RCC materials
• HDPE pipes

Officials have also been directed to identify flood-prone roads, bridges, culverts and other vulnerable stretches and maintain continuous surveillance over such locations.

Alternative Routes to Prevent Traffic Disruptions

The minister instructed officials to identify alternative routes in advance to ensure traffic movement is not disrupted during floods.

Officials were also directed to continuously monitor weather alerts and warnings issued by:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• Telangana Disaster Prevention and Safety Portal
• Telangana State Disaster Management Authority

He further instructed officials to coordinate closely with:

• Police Department
• Revenue Department
• Irrigation Department
• Electricity Department

Immediate Action on Flood-Damaged Roads

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy directed that warning boards should be erected immediately whenever roads are damaged due to floods.

He instructed officials to:

• Open diversion routes without delay
• Begin temporary restoration works as soon as floodwaters recede
• Submit damage assessment reports within 24 hours

The reports must include:

• Photographs
• GPS coordinates

Engineers Empowered to Take Emergency Decisions

The minister said engineers have been empowered to take immediate decisions regarding emergency works connected with public safety.

He stressed that there should be no delay in executing emergency restoration works.

According to the minister, expenditure incurred on restoration works should be met in accordance with:

• SDRF norms
• NDRF norms
• SDMF norms

Hyderabad R&B Control Room to Function Continuously

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy announced that the control room at the R&B Headquarters in Hyderabad will function continuously throughout the monsoon season.

All field officers have been instructed to submit daily situation reports.

The minister added that even if no damage occurs, officials must submit a “Nil Report.”

Leave Restrictions for Field Staff

The minister further instructed senior officers not to sanction leave to field staff during the monsoon season without special permission.

The measure is intended to ensure adequate manpower is available to respond to emergencies caused by heavy rainfall and flooding.

With the onset of the monsoon season, Roads & Buildings and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has ordered continuous surveillance on vulnerable roads, bridges and culverts across Telangana and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted road connectivity during heavy rains and floods. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the department has issued a comprehensive SOP for monsoon preparedness and flood response. Officials have been directed to remain alert from June to October, keep emergency equipment ready, monitor weather warnings, submit daily reports and respond swiftly to any damage. The preparedness measures are currently being implemented across the state.

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