Gangavaram-NH-16 corridor and Bhogapuram access route proposals will be fast-tracked, says NHAI Chairman

Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao met NHAI Chairman Santhosh Kumar Yadav in New Delhi, seeking expedited sanction and implementation of the long-pending Gangavaram Port–NH-16 connectivity road via Tungalam.

They said that despite the completion of a comprehensive Detailed Project Report (DPR), the project was shelved by the previous YSRCP government, resulting in crippling port access, worsening urban congestion, and missed economic opportunities for the region.

With Gangavaram Port’s cargo throughput expected to surge from 2,500 to over 6,000 trucks per day, the current Gajuwaka corridor, which is dotted by dense residential zones, is now functionally obsolete.

The proposed alignment, formulated through exhaustive studies, strategically passes through industrial and railway lands, ensuring minimal displacement while offering a dedicated high-capacity logistics artery.

In addition to pressing for the port road, the TDP leaders urged the NHAI to extend the existing highway infrastructure with grade-separated flyovers towards Bhogapuram International Airport, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity between Visakhapatnam city, the port, and the upcoming airport.

The proposed extension would ease traffic chokepoints and support Visakhapatnam as a multi-modal logistics and aviation hub on India’s eastern seaboard.

Mr. Sribharat emphasised the urgent need to remove bottlenecks that have held back Visakhapatnam’s rise as a modern port city. He said the city’s future lies in integrated connectivity, and that the road to Bhogapuram must match the standards of upcoming greenfield airports across India.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao echoed this urgency, stating that infrastructure decisions must not be mired in politics or neglect. He said that the TDP was committed to restoring long-delayed projects and pushing for coordination between the State and the Centre.

Mr. Santhosh Kumar Yadav acknowledged the delays and assured the delegation that both the Gangavaram–NH-16 corridor and the Bhogapuram access route proposals would be reviewed with priority, with sanctioning and planning to be fast-tracked.