In what could be a big boon to the development of Rayalaseema region, the Centre has granted 10 new national highways at a cost of 10,500 crore.
Interestingly, CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s hometown Kadapa has clinched yet another big infrastructure project when the Centre granted a new National Highway (NH-716) between Kadapa and Renigunta. The new four-lane highway would be constructed at a cost of ₹1500 crore. This national highway will be part of the upcoming industrial corridor between Chennai-Sholapur. Union minister Gadkari said the new projects will spur the development in the state as they will be part of big industrial corridors.
Jagan personally met Gadkari twice in the last six months and pressed for grant of new national highways. After getting the feasibility reports, Centre cleared all the NHs requested by the CM.
The 120-km long National Highway between Kadapa and Renigunta would be taken up as green field highway. Soon after moving the proposal with the Centre, the state government had expedited the land acquisition for the project almost three months ago. “We have already identified the alignment for the proposed new national highway and started land acquisition,” said a senior official of R&B and transport department. He explained that they have directed the district collectors of Kadapa and Chittoor to complete the acquisition of nearly 1060 acres of land required to take up the construction of Kadapa-Renigunta four-lane highway.
The new NH is also a boon for the newly created Annamayya district as it provides direct connectivity to many parts of the district with Renigunta airport. The new NH would help ease the cargo movement between Krishnapatnam port and Chennai port to Sholapur industrial region. It is also expected to help attract new industries in Rayalaseema region. “There is huge scope for attracting investments into the agro-industries as Annamayya district is a hub for horticulture crops,” said senior legislator Gadikota Srikanth Reddy.
The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) found road stretch between Kadapa-Renigunta is witnessing a daily vehicular traffic of about 18,000 resulting in frequent fatal accidents. The construction of a new four-lane highway would not only help prevent the fatal accidents but also improve the goods traffic. The cargo traffic between the industrial regions and ports is expected to generate huge employment through small scale industries along the NH.
Interestingly, the state government proposed the new highway with a view to promote religious tourism in Kadapa, Annamayya, Chittoor and Tirupati districts.