Amaravati’s ₹1,520 crore E3 road and steel bridge boost Vijayawada connectivity

Andhra Pradesh has opened a major road infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity to Amaravati, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurating the E3 Seed Access Road and a new steel bridge in Guntur district.

Built at a cost of ₹1,520 crore, the E3 corridor stretches 22 km from Dondapadu village in Amaravati to National Highway 16. The route passes through Rayapudi, Venkatapalem, Penumaka, Undavalli and Tadepalli before joining the national highway.

The 60-metre-wide road has been designed as a nine-lane corridor and is being developed in three phases. The project includes provisions for a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit System corridor, service roads and supporting infrastructure for drainage, drinking water, gas and electricity.

Pedestrian and non-motorised transport infrastructure has also been incorporated into the corridor. A cycle track, footpaths and a green belt form part of the wider road development.

One of the key components is a four-lane, 478-metre-long steel bridge constructed across the Buckingham Canal at Undavalli. The bridge provides a connection between the E3 road and the Vijayawada-Mangalagiri highway, adding another link between the capital region and Vijayawada.

The new road and bridge are expected to ease pressure on the existing narrow karakatta road running along the Krishna River. The route has been an important local connection, but its limited width can create congestion as traffic between Vijayawada and Amaravati increases.

The E3 corridor is also being integrated into Amaravati’s broader road network. The Andhra Pradesh government is developing 34 roads covering around 350 km in a grid pattern, identified from N1 to N17. These roads are planned to connect with the E3 corridor and provide more direct access to different parts of the capital region.

The wider network is being developed with future traffic growth in mind as Amaravati expands as Andhra Pradesh’s capital. Better road connectivity is expected to support movement between residential areas, government facilities and other developing parts of the capital region.

Following the inauguration, Naidu was also scheduled to travel along the E3 road towards Rayapudi to inspect the MLA and MLC residential complexes under construction.

The opening of the E3 Seed Access Road marks another step in the development of Amaravati’s planned transport network, with the new corridor expected to play an important role in improving regional connectivity as construction activity gathers pace.