Govt. approves Rs. 4,500-cr for road ventures

In order to build world-class road network in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Central government has recently cleared 14 road projects under the National Highways NHDP-4 scheme costing Rs.4,500 crore. Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping in the state government, said. He added that the long pending demand for Vizianagaram bypass has been fulfilled. Among others, the work on the four-laning of the bypass with concrete road for Rs.430 crore has been sanctioned. Visakhapatnam area grid separator at convent junction on the old road is being developed at a cost of Rs.60 crore. Out of this, Rs.30 crore will be funded under the Sagarmala program, Rs.15 crore by NHAI, and Rs.15 crore by Vishakhapatnam Port Trust. In addition, six-laning of Anakapalli-Andapuram access controlled highways as part of NH-16, providing connectivity of 12 km to Visakhapatnam port with service road on both sides. This will be a dedicated corridor to ports of Visakhapatnam and Ranasthalam and covering 47 km of NH 16 is also to be six-laned, entailing a cost of Rs.1,000 crore, said official sources.