Flyover at Ranasthalam likely to be ready in six months

The journey between Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam is expected to be hassle-free in the next six months, thanks to the speedy construction of the flyover at Ranasthalam junction in Srikakulam district.

Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar and other officials have been holding meetings regularly with officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the quick completion of the flyover at Ranasthalam, which is one of the major junctions on NH-16 that connects Chennai and Kolkata. NHAI has been spending around ₹250 crores for the construction of a flyover stretching 1.5 km in the important route.

Etcherla MLA N. Eswara Rao and other public representatives visited the construction site recently and requested NHAI authorities to speed up the work, as traffic jams were the order of the day due to narrow road connectivity at the important junction. NHAI authorities indicated that the entire flyover would be completed within six months.

Due to strong objections from local traders, NHAI has not taken up the flyover work for almost five years, although it has developed six-lane roads from Ichchapuram to Pydibhimavaram in Srikakulam district. Farmers have also opposed land acquisition for the bypass road, leading to further delay in six lane road development in the route.

Finally, the NHAI has taken up the works on the existing route, with traders on both sides coming forward to support the road development. With the suggestion from the public representatives, an elevated model flyover is being constructed at Ranasthalam. So, the people’s movement would be easy under the flyover. “Nearly two lakh people living in and around Ranasthalam would benefit with this model of flyover,” said Mr. Eswara Rao while speaking to The Hindu over telephone.