Centre approves 2 road projects in AP

The construction work on the 465-km long NH-130-CD, which is a part of Visakhapatnam - Raipur Economic Corridor, is all set to gain pace with the MoRTH approving two six-lane packages of the highway costing ₹1,500 crore. Of the 465 km highway, 100 km will be in Andhra Pradesh and the remaining part of it is in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. Of the 100 km stretch in AP, 5-km is in Visakhapatnam and 950km in Vizianagaram. Once the highway is completed, it will reduce the travel time from Vizag to Raipur from 12 to 8 hours. The distance will also come down from 560 to 465 km. The total cost of Visakhapatnam - Raipur Economic Corridor is ₹14,000 crore, out of which the stretch in AP is estimated to cost ₹2,700 crore. The 100 km road project, which has been divided into four packages, will be completed within 2 years. The projects are being taken up simultaneously.

Another project pertaining to the widening and strengthening of National Highway 42 to four-lane in Anantapur town, costing ₹311 crore, was also approved by the Union ministry.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that ₹824 crore was approved for Sabbavaram to Kantakapalle under Raipur - Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor in Andhra Pradesh.

Similarly, another ₹772 crore was approved for the development of a six-lane highway between Korlam and Kantakapalle under the corridor.