VISAKHAPATNAM

As the international airport at Bhogapuram nears completion, residents of Madhurawada are growing anxious over the worsening traffic bottlenecks on key local roads.

Anticipating a massive surge in transit traffic linking the core city to the new airport, authorities have structured a phased plan to expand the highly congested service roads between the International Cricket Stadium and Kommadi Junction.

The strategy divides the corridor expansion into two distinct operational phases to ensure structured development and minimise immediate traffic disruptions.

Right Side Service Road Takes First Priority

Under the newly finalised blueprint, Phase 1 will focus entirely on widening the right-side service road from the Cricket Stadium toward Kommadi. The expansion will immediately ease transit problems for hundreds of families living in the Midhilapuri VUDA Colony. Furthermore, this right-side stretch acts as a crucial link for tech professionals commuting daily toward major global firms, including the Infosys campus located within the Rushikonda IT Zone. Once the top-priority right flank is fully functional and equipped with updated drainage infrastructure, the civic authority will shift operations across the highway.

Expansion of Existing Lane Space

Currently, the service road is just 6.50 metres wide, and is frequently choked with 2,000 to 5,000 vehicles using it daily. To accommodate this growing volume, the civic body will widen the road by an additional 4 metres to improve overall traffic flow efficiency, and reduce time travel for commuters.

Covered Drainage System to Stop Flooding

A key element of this modern corridor will be its ability to withstand heavy monsoon downpours without turning into a waterlogged roads. The GVMC will construct a 1.40-metre-wide Vibrated Reinforced Cement Concrete (VRCC) stormwater drain along the entire edge of the road. The drainage network will be covered with durable concrete slabs, eliminating the hazard of open ditches. The covered design will ensure efficient disposal of rainwater while also doubling as a clean, continuous path for walkers.

“We are awaiting final approval from the State Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department for the project. The funds are available under the 15th Finance Commission grants allocated to the State,” a GVMC official said.

VMRDA Evaluates Flyover and Metro Alignment

Looking further ahead, this upgraded stretch is being positioned as a backbone for the city’s future multi-level transit system.

Speaking to The Hindu, Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) Chairman M.V. Pranav Gopal said that he will hold a meeting with elected representatives to check the feasibility of long-term solutions, including the proposed potential flyover. Additionally, authorities are closely coordinating with the upcoming Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project. The team is waiting for the Metro’s final design blueprints to guarantee the current road expansion integrates perfectly with future metro pillars and avoids any future demolition.