A crucial milestone has been reached for the Amaravati Outer Ring Road (ORR) project. The Union Ministry of Transport and National Highways (MoRTH) Alignment Approval Committee has accorded in-principle approval for the 189.4 km, six-lane access-controlled ORR proposed by the state government. The committee ruled that the proposed Vijayawada Eastern Bypass is not required since it is very close to the ORR and therefore is redundant. However, four locations in the alignment have been suggested to make minor changes. This was decided during the committee meeting held on 20th of last month. The details have been released.

Project Details: 189.4 km with a Rs. 16,310 Crore Budget

  • Alignment Approval: The proposed single alignment of 189.4 km has been approved.
  • Drone Survey Findings: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has found fish ponds, warehouses, and brick kilns at a few places during inspections. The committee suggested minor realignment in the area.
  • Estimated Costs: The project would involve civil works and land acquisition, for which the estimate is Rs. 16,310 crore.
  • Cost Reductions: With the above waivers from the state govt on state GST on cement, steel, bitumen and sewerage, the amount saved is estimated to be about Rs. 1,156 crore. The cost for the central government is said to thus come down to Rs. 15,154 crore.

Right-of-Way Compensation: 70 Meters Suggested

The state government initially proposed a 150-meter land width for the ORR with a future railway line. However, the committee suggested that 70 meters is enough for a six-lane road and can expand to eight lanes in the future. It stressed that land acquisition under the National Highways Act-1956 should limit the use of land to the intended purpose. For extra land acquisition, collaboration with the Railways was recommended.

Eastern Bypass Considered Redundant

The committee has dropped a four-lane Eastern Bypass parallel to the city as it would hardly be one to two km from the ORR and thus, a waste of investment, said Mr Chennamaneni. The effort is instead towards finishing Vijayawada Western Bypass (Chinnautapalli-Gollapudi-Kaja) and connect with ORR at Kaja on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway. It will be constructed as an 18-km connecting road. There will also be a cloverleaf interchange at the Kaja junction.

Freeze on Land Transactions

To avoid inflated costs of land acquisition, the committee recommended that the state government freeze the conversion and sales of land use within 500 meters of the ORR alignment.

Construction of Service Roads: Recommendations

The committee came to a conclusion on the state government's proposal regarding the construction of service roads on both sides of the ORR. The committee felt that service roads be avoided in the initial construction of ORR but instead may be considered at later dates while preparing the plans for the ring road.