NH on Andhra-Odisha border gets Centre nod

Visakhapatnam: The Union government has approved a proposal to lay 286-km National Highway from Malkangiri on the Maoist-hit Andhra-Odisha border (AOB) to Sabbavaram and Tuni via Narsipatnam. Another NH in a stretch of 440 km from Rajahmundry to Vizianagaram is still under consideration.

Visakhapatnam district would reap the benefit from the projects as both the NHs would be passing through it, said Roads and Buildings minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu. 

"It will also increase the connectivity among Agency areas, rural places and cities," he added.

The minister participated in a review meeting with the district collector Pravin Kumar and other department officials at the collectorate on Tuesday. 

He said that the two NH projects are estimated  to cost Rs 1,900 crore and Rs 3,000 crore respectively.

About the 286-km NH stretch, he said, "Before preparing a detailed project report (DPR), we thought of having suggestions from various departments. This is a prestigious project and all the departments should work in tandem for completing it in 2.5 years.”

Nearly 30 km of the NH from Malkangiri to Balimela falls under Odisha. The remaining part of the NH starting from Sileru and passing through Chintapalle is connected to Narsipatnam.  The road is divided into three parts. 

While a four-lane NH of 66-km passes from Sabbavaram to Narsipatnam, another four lanes NH of 40 km would be laid from Narsipatnam to Tuni. 

From Malkangiri to Narsipatnam, two-lane NH in a stretch of 184 km would be built as it is full of Ghat road, officials said.

The minister asked all the department officials, especially those of the forest and irrigation, to raise any objections and give suggestions before preparing the DPR as the 140-km stretch of the proposed NH is in the forest area.

Two toll plazas have been proposed in Sabbavaram - Narsipa-tnam NH and Narsipatnam - Tuni NH, while there is no toll for Nar-sipatnam-Sileru-Malkan-giri stretch due to its low traffic movement.

Another 440-km NH project covering all Agency areas in EG and Visakhapatnam district is in the pipeline. 

The NH at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore begins at Rajamahendravaram and ends at Vizianagaram collectorate via Rampacho-davaram, K.D. Peta, Lambasingi, Paderu and Araku. The land acquisition for the project is proposed to be completed in six months.