Centre approves six-lane expansion of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam NH

The Central Government has granted approval for the expansion of the existing four-lane Vijayawada-Machilipatnam National Highway (NH-65) to a six-lane roadway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is in the process of finalizing a detailed project report (DPR) to determine the project's cost. The government aims to commence construction within four months, with the expanded six-lane highway anticipated to be completed in alignment with the upcoming port's completion in Machilipatnam. The responsibility for preparing the DPR and designing the 67-km-long highway project has been entrusted to KDM Infra by the NHAI, with a strict deadline of three months for report submission. The NHAI has already submitted a preliminary report justifying the necessity for upgrading the NH to six lanes, receiving approval from the concerned ministry. The ministry has instructed the NHAI to expedite the DPR preparation to ensure the project's inclusion in the next phase of National Highway approvals.