The Roads & Buildings Department has sent a feasibility report to the State government for further widening of the 26-km long marine drive from Visakhapatnam to Bheemunipatnam with an estimated cost of ₹270 crore.
Principal Secretary (Roads & Buildings and Transport) Sumita Dawra inspected the ongoing four-laning works between Mangamaripeta and Bheemunipatnam on Thursday. Once the project was approved by the government, the work could be completed in one year. The six-lane proposal, if accepted by the government, could turn out to be a major attraction for tourists, the Principal Secretary said during an interaction with the media along with R & B and Transport officials after the visit.
The four-lane works between Mangamaripeta and Bheemunipatnam are going on at a brisk pace. Ms. Dawra said there were also plans to connect Bheemunipatnam to the Bhogapuram International Airport. The Infrastructure Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (INCAP) would take up land acquisition for the purpose.
Superintending Engineer (R & B) P. Sridhar said the estimated cost of ₹65 crore for the four-lane work has been revised to ₹195 crore due to a change in the plan at Bheemunipatnam town. In view of the difficulties in the acquisition of land with houses on either side of the road passing through the town, the revised plan was to widen the 2-km stretch road on the outskirts along the beach. This apart, an additional 2-km stretch of road was added in the revised plan. The beach road would require additional reinforcement to prevent damage owing to erosion.
Ms. Dawra said the work on construction of the Road-Over-Bridge (ROB), taken up with ₹37.25 crore at Bhimasingi, which links Kothavalasa and S. Kota with Vizianagaram Town, was going on and was expected to be completed by July 31.
Replying to queries, Ms. Dawra said the widening of the Anakapalle – Anandapuram 6- lane road has been handed over to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
