Road connectivity, not a mere concrete path, but a road to development for tribes, says Pawan Kalyan

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan on Sunday (October 11, 2026) launched Adavi Thalli Baata 2.0, to lay 1,976-km-long roads connecting 1,341 tribal habitations across the State, at a cost of ₹2,052 crore, moving closer to his mission to ensure no tribal pocket is left without a road, paving the way for access to education, healthcare, markets and development. In the first phase, at least 735 villages will get the road facility.

The roads, including 45 bridges, would be commissioned by March 2027, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said after laying the foundation stone for a 3.4-km road at Kakavada village, providing road access to 1,400 tribal families across four villages in Rampachodavaram Mandal in Polavaram district.

Addressing a public meeting at Kakavada village, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said: “I never ran after power. My sole commitment is to guarantee access to the fruits of development for the tribes, protecting nature, cultures and traditions.”

“It is the life of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju that is a source of inspiration for me to serve the tribes of Andhra Pradesh. It continues to be a guiding force to achieve that no tribal family is deprived of the fruits of development,” Mr. Pawan Kalyan said.

“There is no need to be born as a tribal to serve the tribes of the State, and the life of Alluri is exemplary to this,” the actor-turned-politician added, saying real life was contrary to what is portrayed in films in the pursuit of such goals.

Compared to non-tribal areas, roads in tribal pockets cost double, given the terrain challenges, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said. “The tribal pockets have been waiting for a mere road facility for over seven decades. In a tribal habitation, a road is not merely a concrete path, but it paves the way to access to education, health care, markets, and development. It brings development to an isolated habitation,” he said.

He said the absence of roads had forced tribal residents to rely on dholi (carrying patients on cots) for medical emergencies, and denied them timely access to markets for their products.

On telecommunication and internet connectivity in tribal pockets, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said: “As many as 135 cellphone towers are being commissioned, and 48 optical fibre cable routes are under scrutiny for permission by the Forest Department. The communication network will also contribute to thriving tourism in the tribal pockets.”

Eco-tourism in regions such as Araku, Maredumilli and the Nallamala hills, and coffee plantations in the Araku Valley, is being encouraged to improve livelihood options for tribal communities, Mr. Pawan Kalyan added.

He also launched the distribution of 38 varieties of farm implements to tribal farmers at a 90% subsidy. ₹68 crore is being spent on the initiative, which aims to cover 34,000 farmers to boost their income and production.

Before the public meeting, Mr. Pawan Kalyan interacted with tribal residents at Rakota village. Responding to their appeals, he sanctioned welfare works worth ₹5 crore, including the renovation of schools and medical and health facilities.

In an interaction with bamboo craftsmen from the Konda Reddi tribe of the Maredumilli forest area, Mr. Pawan Kalyan assured them of market connectivity for their craftwork. He was joined by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.V. Chalapathi Rao, Kakinada MP T. Uday Srinivas, and Rampachodavaram MLA M. Sirisha.