NHAI constructing flyover near Varadhi

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is constructing a flyover near Kanaka Durga Varadhi in the city. The flyover is being constructed as part of the six-laning of the Chilakaluripeta-Vijayawada section of the NH-5.

Work on the flyover has already begun at the entrance to the Varadhi on the Vijayawada side. The flyover is likely to be completed in the next six months. The four-lane flyover will begin at the Varadhi and end at the junction of NH-5 with the road coming from the Veterinary Hospital and the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium. Traffic coming from Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam and going towards Chilakaluripeta will have to take the flyover.

The NHAI officials say the flyover is being constructed as part of the six-laning project, which is already under implementation. The flyover is meant to ease the traffic in the city and take highway traffic directly to the Varadhi and beyond. The traffic volume on this stretch of road is very high, officials say.

According to information, the flyover is likely to cost anywhere between Rs.10 crore and Rs.12 crore. Though the NHAI is constructing the six-lane road between Chilakaluripeta and Vijayawada, the flyover will have only four lanes as the Varadhi has four lanes with traffic flow of around 40,000 passenger car units (PCU). At least two-thirds of this would take the flyover.

BOT basis

The total cost of the project was Rs.675 crore. The six-laning of the highway on a BOT basis was mooted in 2007.