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New Delhi : Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on July 13, 2018, said that the length of National Highways in Andhra Pradesh has increased by 2,926 Km in the last four years.
Gadkari said the length of NHs in the state before May 2014 was 4,193 Km which has now increased to 7,118 Km. A total investment for development of National Highway in Andhra Pradesh is likely to be around Rs one lakh crore.Under Bharatmala, about 2,520 km of roads amounting to Rs 44,000 crore have been envisaged.
Gadkari was addressing media after laying the foundation stone for National Highways and Port Connectivity projects worth Rs 6,688 crore and inaugurating port projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh at an event in Vishakhapatnam on July 13. He said since 2014, 15 projects having a length of 902 km amounting to Rs 5,309 crore have been completed. Further, 37 projects are on going with a total length of 1,643 km with total project cost of Rs 15,700 crore. Another 97 works of total project cost of Rs 27,436 crore have been awarded.
The NH projects for which foundation stone was laid include capacity augmentation of the existing 4-lane, 13.47 km stretch of NH-16 from Icchapuram to Narasannapet at a cost of Rs 439 crore, 6-laning of 54.20 km stretch of NH-16 from Narasannapet to Ranasthalam at a cost of Rs 1,350 crore, 6-laning of NH-16 from Ranasthalam to Anandapuram (Visakhapatnam) at a cost of Rs 1,187.10 Crore and 6-laning of Anandapuram –Pendurthi – Anakapalli Section of NH-16 at a cost of Rs 2,013 Crore. These projects will improve connectivity between Chennai and Kolkata, reduce travel time between the two cities and also lower traffic congestion in Vishakhapatnam city, according to a PIB release.
Gadkari also said that fishery was very important for the state of Andhra Pradesh. He gave assurance that the Government would focus on developing fishing harbours and fish processing and packaging centres in the state. He said that 108 projects worth more than Rs one lakh thirty five thousand crores under Sagarmala are under various stages of implementation in the state. He inaugurated the upgraded iron ore handling facility at Outer Harbour of Vizag Port at a cost of Rs 580 crores, two newly developed berths at the inner harbour and a high rise wall of 7.5 m constructed from Seahorse Junction to Convent Junction to prevent dust from spreading to neighbouring residential areas.
The Port Connectivity projects for which Shri Gadkari laid the foundation stone include 12.7 km long 4-lane connectivity from NH-16 to Vishakhapatnam Port at a cost of Rs 549 crore under Bharatmala and 0.85 km Grade Separator from H7 area to port connectivity road bypassing convent junction in Vizag at a cost of Rs 39.93 Crore. Gadkari also dedicated to the nation the 4.15 km 4-laning of balance connectivity road from Visakhapatnam Port to NH-16, executed at a cost of Rs 100 Crore. In addition, he inaugurated Port Projects worth Rs 1,062 Crore and laid the foundation stone for port projects worth Rs 679 Crore.