Guntur-Hyderabad Highway to Get Four-Lane Upgrade; ₹881 Cr Sanctioned

In a significant infrastructure push for Andhra Pradesh’s Palnadu region, the long-pending widening of the Guntur-Hyderabad highway has finally begun. The road, now granted national highway status, will be expanded from two to four lanes with an allocation of ₹881 crore from the Centre.

The 49-km stretch between Kondamodu and Peracharla had remained stalled for nearly two decades due to financial hurdles. While earlier efforts by the state government, influenced by former Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, failed to take off, recent lobbying by Narsaraopet MP and TDP floor leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu revived the project.

The MP’s persistent engagement with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari proved critical. After initially rejecting the proposal due to technical and financial concerns, the Centre reversed its decision following a detailed appeal from Devarayalu, who highlighted the highway’s accident-prone nature and its strategic importance for connecting the old and new capitals under the AP Reorganisation Act.

“The high rate of fatal accidents on this stretch and the lack of development had to be addressed. I convinced the Union minister using provisions in the Reorganisation Act to ensure support for better connectivity,” said Devarayalu during the foundation stone ceremony.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has done land acquisition and tender finalization, paving the way for quick implementation. The improved highway will go a long way in enhancing Amaravati connectivity and opening up new industrial and economic vistas for the area.

Devarayalu further disclosed that the Narsaraopet lok sabha constituency is now experiencing national highway projects worth a total of almost 250 km and ₹5,000 crore, which it claimed as an unparalleled developmental pursuit.

He further stated that the state government remains committed to complementary projects, including bringing Godavari water to the Sagar right canal and developing a ₹1,200 crore water grid to supply drinking water to every household.

Legislators Kanna Lakshminarayana, Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao, and Bhashyam Praveen were present at the event.