VIJAYAWADA: The major road leading to the new capital Amaravati, Seed Access Road, which connects the core capital with the National Highway 16, is all set to be thrown open to the public in the next two months. Even though a major part of the 21-km-long road is ready, works in a few pockets are yet to be concluded.
According to Amaravati Development Corporation Limited (ADCL) officials, the works have reached the final stage. “The works have reached an advanced stage. We will make the major roads motorable by December,” ADCL Chairperson and Managing Director D Lakshmi Parthasarathy told TNIE. The ADCL has simultaneously been developing greenery along the road.
For the record, the Seed Access Road is one of the first projects taken up by the State government in Amaravati. The works were launched by the ADCL in 2016, and the road was initially supposed to be ready in nine months to one year. But due to various reasons, the date of its inauguration has been missed multiple times.
The reason behind the delay in the completion of the works is said to be the change in the structure of the road. While it was initially planned to be a four-lane road, the government, upon the direction of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, upgraded it to a six-lane road with a possibility of further extension. “The works of the previously planned four-lane road have been completed. However, since the CM asked us to go for a six-lane road, we again had to go for tenders and award the ongoing balance work,” Municipal
Administration Minister P Narayana said. The road would be inaugurated shortly, he added. He further explained that the 320-km-long trunk roads were also progressing well and that over 25 per cent works were completed.
He added that 49 per cent works of the 36 bridges to be built as connectivities between roads, were completed. Similarly, he said, 505 small bridges out of the required 1,851 near the crossings were ready.
“Had it only been roads, we would have completed them long ago. But, since we are developing underground utilities such as power ducts, gas line, Information and Communication Technology line, sewerage line, water lines and others, it is taking time,” he observed. According to the minister, the stormwater and power ducts were completed by nine per cent and five per cent respectively.
Six-lane road
The works were launched by the ADCL in 2016. While it was initially planned to be a four-lane road, the government, upon the direction of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, upgraded it to a six-lane road with a possibility of further extension