VITAL LINK: The location at Narasimha Nagar from where the twin tunnel is likely to be laid.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The `City of destiny' has got everything right from the biggest shore-based integrated steel plant to one of the longest flyovers in the country and from picturesque settings to a natural harbour. What's missing was a tunnel and that is likely to come up soon. And not one, it is going to be a twin-tube tunnel.

The Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has plans to construct a twin-tube tunnel on the Eastern Ghat hill ranges to connect Narasimha Nagar in Akkayyapalem to the Arilova corridor. As per plans submitted to the State Government, the adjacently-positioned twin-tube tunnel was proposed to handle the traffic both ways individually. Each tunnel would be 1.2 km long with a width of 16.5 metres. There would be a footpath for the public and a separate service road. The project is estimated at Rs.93 crores.

"The tunnel will reduce the distance to Arilova by over 10 km from the city side. Once it is completed, people need not drive all along the highway to go to Arilova or Pineapple Colony," GVMC Chief Engineer P. Panduranga Rao told The Hindu .

He said the GVMC had taken care of every detail, including the lighting. "It will be of international standards," he asserted. The GVMC had already obtained all required clearances, including environmental clearance certificate, and was awaiting the State-level steering committee's nod to call for bids. "The project has been approved by the State Government in principle and it is now up to the steering committee to get the acceptance from the Central Government," he said.

Project design

The design of the project was being done by Consulting Engineering Service (CES). The twin-tube tunnel would meet the four-lane corridor that is under construction from Hanumanthawaka to Pineapple Colony from Narasimha Nagar in the city side.

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