Anantapur: No progress is witnessed in the survey process for the proposed four lanes to connect Amaravati by linking NH 44 and NH 65 since eight months when the Union ministry of road transport and highways approved the project. As part of the post-bifurcation projects, the new route was designed to connect interior parts of Rayalaseema district with the new state capital.
The main purpose of the government is to enable people to reach the new capital in four to five hours from Anantapur, Kurnool or Kadapa and Srikakulam. Another significant feature of the proposed highway is to establish a quick connection between the IT hub of Bengaluru and Amaravati.
As per the proposed project, about 425 km-long road including 74 km in Anantapur and 114 km roads in Kurnool would be upgraded. Initial point at Bhogasamudram in Tadipatri was proposed in the design to pass through Kolimigundla, Giddalur, and Kothapalli including deep Nallamala forest from both Kurnool and Prakasam districts.
The Union ministry of road transport and highways has approved a Rs 1, 000 crore project to convert state highways into national highways. The project is mainly aimed at connecting Anantapur to the new capital, Amaravati via Kurnool covering a total distance of 425 km.
Apart from connecting Anantapur to Amaravati by linking National Highways - NH 44 and NH 65, the project envisages connecting roads via Kurnool, Kadapa and Anantapur over a distance of 132 km, the existing four-lane road is proposed for expansion to six and eight lanes.
Sources said the Centre had allotted about Rs12 crore toward survey process and a Bengaluru-based construction company got bids few days ago. "Not even a single person from the company approached us for details so far," a national highway official said.
The company has to conduct a survey and then only acquisition process could be taken up as a large number of houses and lands are to be acquired for the project. Further, the road passes through deep Nallamala forest and the Centre has to sanction environmental and forest clearances.
