VISAKHAPATNAM: The tiring journey from the plains of East Godavari district to the picturesque Visakhapatnam agency will be a thing of the past, as the Central government is actively mulling a proposal of laying a four-lane National Highway linking Rajamahendravaram with Araku Valley covering other agency areas, including Rampachodavaram, Maredumilli, Addateegala, Rajavommangi, Kakarapadu, Krishna Devi Peta, Chintapalli and Paderu.
Though the proposed NH of 400 km is in a conceptual stage, the project appears to get much steam with the files being dusted off on the repeated efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government.
An expert team comprising both the Central and the State higher officials recently undertook a survey the assess the viability of the project. The officials here say that as soon as the experts finalise a detailed project report (DPR) and it gets approved, the construction works of the NH will commence.
The NH will be developed as an alternative transportation facility, connecting the maximum number of Agency mandals of both Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts, thereby creating jobs in the service sector for the local youth.
Though mooted long ago, recently, the State government has reviewed the project proposals and submitted them to the Centre again for consideration. Initially, the project cost was estimated at `2,000 crore and was supposed to be undertaken by the Centre and the State in 60:40 funding ratio. But, the funding structure would be decided, only after the project gets the Centre’s nod, the officials say.
The Road Transport Ministry RO Sravankumar Singh, NH Superintending Engineer (SE-Vijayawada Circle) R Manohar Reddy, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam Executive Engineer GD Prabhakar Rao, East Godavari (Kakinada division) Deputy Executive Engineer Narasayya and other engineering officials visited the project areas and conducted the feasibility study this month. The team visited the stretch from Rajamahendravaram, Rampachodavaram to Araku Valley via Addateegala, Rajavommangi, Kakarapadu, KD Peta and Paderu.
“National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation of the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways will undertake the works. We will prepare the DPR and submit it for approval. If it gets the nod, the works of the new NH will begin soon,” said a member of the expert team requesting anonymity.