Guntur: The old Vijayawada-Madras Grand Trunk Road is going to be the first six-lane road in Amaravati.
The works of temporary Secretariat complex at Velagapudi has been speeded up in the past few days as the two contractors are taking up works round-the-clock. The construction of pillars of the temporary Secretariat complex is going to be completed and construction of concrete slab would be the next process.
The tiny roads are creating problems for the transportation of material to the construction site at Velagapudi. Moreover, these roads would not cater to the transportation needs of the ministers, officials and employees to reach the temporary Secretariat.
The officials have proposed widening the old grand trunk road into six lanes from Prakasam Barrage to Mangalagiri at a cost of Rs 37 crore. The CRDA constructed new roads linking Undavalli, Penumaka, Krishnayapalem, Velagapudi, Uddandarayunipalem and other villages to Krishna Karakatta Road, but as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is living in the Lingamaneni guest house, the road is not permissible for transportation purposes.
Mr Naidu directed the CRDA to link the old Madras Road to Amaravati. Hence, the roads and buildings department, after conducting a survey, proposed widening the road to 120 feet with six lanes. An official of the CRDA said that a China based firm Gizou International Infrastructure Corporation (GIIC) will take up the project.
He said that present width of the old Madras Road is 40 to 60 feet in various areas in the stretch of 12 km between Prakasam barrage to Mangalagiri and it will be widened for a hassle-free journey to Velagapudi.
The locals of Undavalli, Dolasnagar and other areas adjacent to old Madras GT Road recalled that this road was the main source of transportation till 1987. But later, the union government constructed Vijayawada Chennai NH which diverted the traffic to the new highway.
Representatives of GIIC inspected the old Madras Road and collected details from the CRDA, R & B and revenue departments on the traffic, encroachments and needs of the public for widening the road.
