GVMC plans to revamp 253 km of roads in Visakhapatnam with modern facilities in the next five years

GVMC plans to revamp 253 km of roads in Visakhapatnam with ₹500 crore project under Operation & Maintenance basis.

About 253 km of roads (Over 40 feet width) under the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will be getting a facelift with all facilities in a phased manner in the next five years. The corporation has proposed to take up the project under Operation & Maintenance basis. The authorities estimate worth of project to be around ₹500 crore and the payment will be made on annuity mode.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, GVMC Commissioner P. Sampath Kumar said that assessment and identification of the roads in all the eight zones has already been completed, where in the GVMC has categorised the roads as poor, medium and good. About 39.92 km roads were identified as poor roads, 116.36 km as medium roads and 97.27 km were identified as good roads. “As a priority, we would put efforts to improve the poor roads,” he said.

Mr. Sampath Kumar said that the roads will have all road infrastructure right from medians, bus stops, street lights, ornamental lights, road markings, light improvement in junctions, modular traffic signals and CCTVs.

Mr. Sampath Kumar said that there will be focussed approach and a single contractor will be given the responsibility of the works. The corporation will have a single point of contact, he said, adding that this model was successful in Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, which results in cost cutting and yield good condition of roads within five years. Based on the performance of the contractor and the results, the corporation may expand the project, he said.

“As of now, design surveys have been going and soon a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared. Five-year tender will be allotted. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has also given his nod,” Mr. Sampath Kumar said.

The city has about 3,086 km of road network in which stretch of 2,954 km is GVMC roads, while 51 km is National Highway and 80 km is under R&B.

Mr. Sampath Kumar has said that as part of measures to meet the drinking water needs of the Madhurawada region, infrastructural arrangement is being made by the corporation.