VISAKHAPATNAM: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) entrusted the responsibility of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for four flyovers proposed in various parts of Vizag city to a private bidder last year.
As per the initial projections, the estimated expenditure for these four flyovers has been pegged at Rs 1,000 crore.
These flyovers with multi-level grade separators would come up at Gajuwaka, Satyam Junction, Hanumanthawaka and Car Shed Junction.
About 40 kilometre national highway network is located within the core city - from Kurmannapalem to Kommadi. These highway junctions, which are an intersection of the highway and the arterial roads of the city, have been experiencing increased vehicular traffic from all four directions with the development of the city and consequent increase of both public and private vehicles in the city.
There has been more than 400% increase in vehicles in the last year 15 years from mere 3 lakh vehicles in 2005 to about 14 lakh vehicles now.
These junctions, where the new flyovers are proposed, lead to several major places of the city.
For example, the BRTS road in Hanumanthawaka junction leads to Simhachalam, Srikakulam, Maddilapalem, and beach road on four sides. The city arterial roads, intersecting with the highway at these places, also connect many residential areas.
Considering the traffic problems being faced by the public and future growth potential in mind, it is proposed to construct flyovers with advanced technology. The flyovers designs would be in sync with the alignments of the proposed metro rail project from Anakapalli to Bhogapuram.
The GVMC officials recently gave a power point presentation on various developmental works of the civic body to state agricultural minister K Kannababu, tourism minister M Srinivasa Rao and Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy. They also discussed about the flyover project.
When enquired about the project, GVMC engineering officials informed that the final DPR with project designs would be submitted by the consultant soon.
Speaking to TOI earlier, GVMC Mayor M Hari Venkata Kumari said that of these four flyovers, the first one would come up in Hanumanthawaka junction, which is experiencing a heavy traffic gridlock on a daily basis. The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority is already constructing a multi-grade separator (flyover) at the busy NAD junction with about Rs 150 crore.
