Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav at Finance Ministry’s conference on ‘Financing India’s Journey towards Viksit Bharat’, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo/Neeraj)
| Photo Credit: ANI
Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav has requested Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to construct bypasses and paved shoulders along National Highway-42, which passes through the Uravakonda constituency in Anantapur district.
Mr. Keshav met Mr. Gadkari in New Delhi and submitted a formal request for the works. The Union Minister has accorded in-principle approval for the proposals, said an official release.
During his meeting, Mr. Keshav highlighted that frequent accidents occur on the NH due to sharp curves at village boundaries along the Anantapur-Bellary road. He sought bypasses and paved shoulders along the 71.25 km stretch of NH-42 in Andhra Pradesh, specifically from the Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border to Anantapur spanning km 4/350 to km 75/600.
The stretch is currently a two-lane road that passes through several densely populated administrative centres and residential areas.
The NH-42 passes through the Anantapur district headquarters, the Uravakonda constituency headquarters, the mandals of Uravakonda, Kudair, and Vidapanakal, as well as 15 villages. This route was upgraded from a State highway to a National highway (NH-42) in 2010. It begins at Joladarasi in Karnataka on NH-67, passes through Uravakonda, Anantapur, Raptadu, Kadiri, Palamaner, and Kuppam, and terminates at Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu on NH-48.
Although the road was widened to two lanes with paved shoulders during 2015–16, no significant improvements to the road’s alignment, nor construction of bypasses were undertaken.
Mr. Keshav said the highway’s sharp bends and passage through residential areas poses serious safety risks. He informed Mr. Gadkari that 10 accident-prone locations had been identified along this route and requested the immediate construction of bypasses and the provision of paved shoulders at these specific points.
The Union Minister has given in-principle approval for the proposed works, the release added.
Published – October 11, 2026 12:15 pm IST
