The process related to the Outer Ring Road (RRR) of the capital of Andhra Pradesh is accelerating. The ORR alignment has been finalized and DPR work has begun. At the request of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, the Center has given the green signal to bear the entire cost of this ORR, including land acquisition.
To this extent, NHAI officials have been ordered to finalize the final alignment of the ORR and prepare the DPR. Recently, work has started in collaboration with RV Associates (a consulting firm). Surveys to this extent In 2018, it is known that the ORR alignment, which is 189 km long, was designed.
But since it has been six years since this alignment was designed, a key decision has been taken. Drone videos were taken to examine the alignment once again. After the entire process is complete, NHAI officials will discuss with the state government. After that, the final alignment will be sent to the center for approval.
Moreover, surveys are being conducted to estimate how many vehicles will ply on the Amaravati ORR once its construction is complete. What is the current traffic on various national highways and state roads within the ORR? A traffic count survey is also being conducted to find out how many vehicles will pass through the ORR.
Officials are conducting an origin and destination survey on the vehicles coming from various directions, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Anantapur, and Machilipatnam, where to enter the ORR, how far they will go, and whether there are any opportunities to divert to other routes.
An axle load survey is being conducted to determine how many axles and how many load vehicles are running on the ORR, and how many of them are going over the ORR. After the Amaravati ORR alignment is finalized, while the DPR is being prepared, land acquisition and all permissions are expected to be obtained.
The constructions to be undertaken at the crossings of the roads on the ORR, the two huge bridges to be undertaken over the Krishna River, bridges near railway crossings, 2 tunnels, canals, etc. are being prepared in the DPR. The total length of the Amaravati ORR is 189 km, and it is expected that about 3,000 hectares of land will be acquired in 5 districts.
If 90% of the land acquisition is completed by the time the DPR is ready within a year, NHAI sources say that there will be an opportunity to call tenders immediately and start the work. This ORR will pass through some forest areas.
Since it is a completely greenfield highway, it is said that forest department permissions and environmental permissions will have to be obtained. The focus is on obtaining these permissions before the DPR is completed. Overall, the government hopes to start the Amaravati ORR as soon as possible.
