The road journey from the coastal districts to Tirupati has been revolutionized. Where the 57 km stretch from Naidupeta to Renigunta used to be a challenge, it is now a six-lane smooth and swift road. Earlier, the road was a nightmare, accident-prone, and it would take two to three hours to cover the distance. Now, with the near-completion of the six-lane National Highway 71, it will take just an hour to cover the distance.

Route Information

The broadened road originates from the Kolkata-Chennai National Highway at Naidupeta and merges with Kadapa-Renigunta-Chennai National Highway near Renigunta. Improvement of connectivity with the crucial villages of Srikalahasti and Yerpedu has been done through these villages.

Project Information

  • Construction Cost and Period: This project was taken up by Megha Engineering in December 2020 in ₹1,931 crores. The work began on 31 January, 2022, after land acquisition over 264 hectares was thoroughly done.
  • Key Features:
    • ​Interchanges and Bypasses: There is a trumpet interchange at Naidupeta, which takes the road towards the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway. The traffic flow remains unabated due to a roundabout at Renigunta. It has made the route further smoother with bypasses at Srikalahasti and Yerpedu.
    • Service Roads: The local traffic is diverted from the highway through service roads on either side.

Better Designing for Safety and Speed

The design of the highway is basically a backbone of safety and efficiency.

  • Speed Limits: Cars can move at 100 km/h, while buses and lorry trucks are capped at 80 km/h.
  • Lane Allocation:
    • ​First lane: Cars (Light motor vehicles).
    • Second lane: Buses and lorry trucks.
    • Third lane: Heavy vehicles that carry heavy loads.
    • Dimensions: The road has a width of 29 meters. The median is 4 meters, equipped with drip irrigation for greenery.

Modern Amenities

  • Lighting: 1,500 lighting poles supporting the needed sections including bridges, service roads, and intersections.
  • Toll Plaza: A new toll plaza at Yerpedu has been built for collection of toll revenue without much hassle and smooth flow of traffic.

Coping with the Challenges

Megha Engineering never allowed the heavy rainfall in the construction time to hamper its completion time. Vice President K. Rambabu was happy that a road with international standards had been delivered by the team.

This transformational infrastructure upgrade will make travel to Tirupati stress-free and enjoyable for travelers.