FAST LANE: A view of the 4.87 km-long flyover which is part of the Port Connectivity project connecting Visakhapatnam Port to the National Highway-5 near Sheelanagar. — Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM : Thanks to the Port Connectivity road, driving down to the industrial belt and the airport from the Old Town area need no longer be a pain in the neck.

The longest over-bridge in the state, it offers a smooth drive to motorists to reach the Dockyard junction in hardly 10 minutes from Convent junction (Chavulamadhum) and the airport in about double that time.

Cargo movement

The project was implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) as part of national policy to provide proper connectivity to major ports in the country for speedy movement of cargo.

The work was entrusted to M/s M. Venkata Rao Engineering Contractors towards the end of 2002 and was completed a few months ago.

The road couldn't be declared open officially due to delay in the fixation of toll charges.

The project, a joint venture between the NHAI and Visakhapatnam Port Trust, was completed at a cost of Rs.114 crores. "The road includes a 4.87 km flyover, the longest in the state, and 7.6 km on ground level. " says K. Srinivasulu, project director NHAI.

"We have plans to set up two toll gates, one near Dockyard and the other near Sheelanagar. A nominal amount would be collected from those using the flyover from Convent junction to Dockyard and a higher amount would be collected from those using the entire stretch ," he said.

The road was opened for vehicular traffic during the President's Fleet Review in February this year.

It was, however, closed subsequently when after an accident occurred on the flyover one night. Work on provision of lighting on the flyover, taken up at a cost of Rs.1 crore, is expected to be completed in three months.

Police intervention

Vehicular traffic was once again allowed on the road, on the intervention of police Commissioner V.S.K. Kaumudi, in view of the threat perception to Naval installations and major industries in the area on August 15.

The road is a boon to employees of Dockyard, naval offices, children of schools located in the area and residents of various colonies in the industrial belt who were stranded in traffic jams on the narrow bridge near Dockyard and at level crossings whenever the old flyover was under repair.

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