Andhra Pradesh: NH-16 turns into a little Amaravati'

Guntur: The 12 km landscape between Kanaka Durgamma Varadhi (bridge on Krishna river) and Mangalagiri is turning into “little Amaravati”. The landscape has a corridor of apartments and world-class skyscrapers on either sides of the National Highway-16. The construction of many apartments, including the corridor on NH-16 in Amaravati, have not yet started. This 12 km stretch is fast developing after the naming of the AP Police Headquarters, DGP office and other government department offices and construction of Telugu Desam national office, YSR Congress, BJP and Jana Sena party offices.

Additionally, skyscrapers made by Jayabheri Constr-uctions, Lingamaneni Landmarks Devel-opers Private Limited (LLDPL), Shapoorji Pallonji, Ramakris-hna Housing and other developers are also constructing skyscrapers on the NH-16. The availability of a road and rail network is attracting buyers, including officials to shift to the 12 km stretch called ‘little Amaravati highway town’.

The public are opining that the NH-16 stretch between Vijayawada to Manga-lagiri is mostly surrounded by greenery and hills providing a wonderful opportunity to live in a cool climate. So this area is swiftly developing faster than Amaravati. An area manager working in a medical company, S. Ganesh, said that the Amaravati construction and the moving in of the population will take more years as only officials and employees cannot develop the city. He said that people want to live near their work places, so presently the majority of people prefer houses on the NH-16.

He said that in Vijayawada, work places could be reached in 15 to 20 minutes, unlike Amaravati where the transportation service is still struggling. A real estate promoter, S. Sarath, said that offices of political parties, government department offices, hotels and big showrooms are all coming up in the NH-16. The connectivity to Amaravati will be provided from NH-16, so the public prefers this area. He stated that a livable atmosphere including connectivity is important, which is available adjacent areas of NH-16.

So nearly 1,000 apartments, group houses and skyscrapers are coming up in the 12 km stretch between Varadhi and Mangalagiri. He said that officials, traders, businessmen, employees including the middle-classes were living and purchasing houses, plots and flats in the 12 km stretch. He has predicted that this area will be developed as a ‘little Amaravati’ even before the completion of the capital Amaravati.