Gadkari Says Greenfield Corridors, Port Connectivity Will Drive AP’s Economy

VISAKHAPATNAM: Greenfield corridors, port connectivity, and ring roads will drive the economic growth of Andhra Pradesh, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said, addressing the session on “Roads to Viksit Bharat: Highways, Logistics, and Andhra Pradesh’s Growth Corridor” at the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

“Our credit and capital market is so strong that whenever we enter the market, our bond issues get oversubscribed. From the fully monetised completed roads, we can raise funds that can then be used to build new roads,” Gadkari disclosed.

He said the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has accorded priority to development of roads, power, water, transport, and communications. Efficient road networks are essential for industrialisation, employment generation, and economic growth, he pointed out. The Union minister said the government is attracting domestic and international institutional investors through Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and securitisation to finance infrastructure projects. He called on citizens too to invest in highway infrastructure, participate in nation-building, and benefit from investment returns.

Referring to major economic corridors, Gadkari said the Bengaluru-Kadapa-Vijayawada corridor and Raipur-Visakhapatnam economic corridor would improve connectivity between industrial centres, mineral-producing regions, and major ports. They will reduce travel time, facilitate movement of goods, and improve access to domestic and international markets. He outlined plans for the Hyderabad-Vijayawada-Machilipatnam Highway, Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, and Kharagpur-Visakhapatnam-Amaravati Corridor. He said the proposed Amaravati Outer Ring Road would improve connectivity around the capital region, reduce congestion, and encourage development of industrial parks, warehouses, and logistics centres.

Gadkari underlined that Andhra Pradesh’s extensive coastline and network of ports are advantageous for industrial and export-led growth. Better road connectivity to Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, and other ports would reduce transportation costs, facilitate cargo movement, and strengthen the state’s position as a logistics and maritime hub.

He pointed out that improvements in road infrastructure and transport efficiency have reduced logistics costs from 16 per cent of GDP to about 9 per cent. He highlighted the government’s focus on alternative fuels, including ethanol, biodiesel, compressed biogas, electricity, and hydrogen; will reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and promote cleaner transport.

The Union minister said continued investment in strategic highways, port connectivity, ring roads, and bypasses would strengthen industrial competitiveness, attract investment and generate employment, supporting Andhra Pradesh’s contribution to the vision of Viksit Bharat.