VIJAYAWADA: Uncertainty still prevails whether the Seed Access road will be completed by the end of this year, the extended deadline for completing the works of the four-lane road intended to provide direct connectivity to the seed capital area of Amaravati.Initially, the government fixed March 2017 as the deadline and later extended the same to June 2017.
However, the deadline was extended for another 6 months due to the delay in land acquisition. Of the 18.3 kilometre stretch from Undavalli to Dondapadu villages, works are underway on a stretch of 14.3 km. The process of acquiring lands required for the remaining 4 km is yet to be completed in villages like Undavalli and Penumaka.
The work is yet to commence in some parts of Yerrabalem and Navuluru villages. This apart, some houses and a Church are also coming in the way of the road works in Rayapudi and the officials are in consultation with villagers.
While laying the foundation stone for the Seed Access road works in June 2016, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced to complete the road works within 9 months. The works are yet to pick up momentum and the officials are unsure whether they would be able to complete the works within the extended deadline.
The 4 lane seed access road, which will be extended to 6-8 lines in future, will connect the core capital area to the Chennai - Kolkata National Highway 16. The government called tenders for laying a four line road to a length of 18.5 km under the first phase and the task was entrusted to Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) after fixing a deadline to complete the works within 9 months.Admitting that it is a herculean task to complete the works by the end of this year-the fresh deadline set up by the government, an official said that though the works are progressing in a length of 13 km, they are yet to commence the works in the remaining 5 km.
“Apart from expediting the ongoing works, we are also waiting for the completion of land acquisition. As the land acquisition is taking more time with farmers still opposing the move and demanding more compensation, we are not sure whether we will be able to complete the works within the deadline which is just four months away,’’ the official explained.He said that in addition to the 18.3 km, they are yet to call tenders for another 3 km road for connecting the seed access road to the National Highway.
“As there are some canals and railway tracks coming in the way of the three km road to be laid from Undavalli to Manipal hospital, where the seed access road joins the National Highway, we are planning to take up the elevated road to a length of 1.5 km,’’ he said.However, Amaravati Development Corporation Chairperson and Managing Director Lakshmi Parthasarathy said, “The works are progressing. Once the land acquisition is completed, it will not take much time to complete the road works. We are confident that the works will be completed at the earliest.”
ROAD DEVELOPMENT
n Seed Capital Access Road mooted to provide best speed road connectivity to core capital area
n An eight lane road to a length of 21.5 km to be constructed, connecting Chennai - Kolkata National Highway to Dondapadu village in capital city
n Under first phase, tenders called for four lane road for laying 18.3 km road