Outer ring road proposal resurfaced

VISAKHAPATNAM: The proposal for an Outer Ring Road at Narsipatnam has resurfaced, thanks to the active initiative of Assembly Speaker Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu. The project, which was originally proposed seven years ago, had been gathering dust until now. The Road and Buildings department officials are currently preparing fresh estimations for the project.

It is worth noting that the outer ring road proposal, which aimed to link six mandals surrounding Narsipatnam, was first mooted during the laying of the foundation for the second mini bridge on Pedaboddepalli in 2018, with an estimated cost of Rs. 500 crore. However, with the change of government in 2019, the project proposals were shelved.

Narsipatnam, known as the Gateway to the Visakha Agency (tribal) area, has been developing rapidly and serves as the headquarters of the Revenue Division. According to the proposals, road widening works would be undertaken by connecting all main roads passing through Natavaram, Golugonda, Rolugunta, Makavarapalem, and Kotavuratla. With the revised estimations, the project would cost Rs. 700 crore now.

The officials of the R and B department stated that the exact route of the outer ring road would be determined once they receive clarity regarding the availability of funds. They also mentioned that a 7.4-kilometer road from Sadhupakala to Pedaboddepalli via Gurundharapalem, OL Puram, and Chettupalli would help ease traffic from Chintapalli to Vizag without passing through Narsipatnam city.

For this road construction, approximately 70 acres of land acquisition had taken place a decade ago, and the government had paid compensation of Rs. 4.3 crore to the landowners. Officials believe that this road would help minimize traffic congestion in the city.

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