The long-pending demand for widening of NH-16 (Chennai-Kolkata) from Narasannapeta to Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district will be materialised, if the recent talks between Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and his Road Transport & Highways counterpart Nitin Gadkari yield result.

If it materialises, the NH-16 stretch in north coastal Andhra Pradesh will become a fully six-lane one, ensuring a safe and comfortable road trip to the upcoming international airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district and Visakhapatnam city.

According to official information, Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu met Mr. Gadkari on Wednesday to review the pending highway project.

“Mr. Ram Mohan Naidu discussed key infrastructure projects related to Srikakulam district with Mr. Gadkari, including the six-laning of NH-16 from Narasannapeta to Ichchapuram. The issue of ROB at Pathapatnam near the Goddess Neelamani Ammavaru temple was also discussed,” an official statement by the Union Civil Aviation Minister said.

The 211-km NH-16 runs from Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district to Anandapuram in Visakhapatnam district, and the 197-km stretch of it between Pydibhimavaram and Ichchapuram falls under Srikakulam district.

In 2016, the government decided to widen the four-lane highway to a six-lane one. The project was divided into three parts—from Ichchapuram to Narasannapeta, from Narasannapeta to Pydibhimavaram, and from Pydibhimavaram to Anandapuram.

While the six-lane road work from Anandapuram to Narasannapeta was completed in 2022, the work from Tamarapalli village in Narasannapeta to Ichchapuram has been pending. As per initial estimates, at least 17 bridges are to be constructed in this stretch. There is no progress on this pending project till date.