The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department's Visakhapatnam Circle granted approvals for 699 infrastructure and connectivity works across agency and tribal regions between 2024-25 and 2025-26 up to February, involving diversion of 393.562 hectares of forest land for public utility projects. The approvals covered road laying, installation of communication towers, optical fibre cable projects and drinking water supply schemes to improve connectivity and access to services in remote tribal hamlets across Alluri Sitarama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam, Srikakulam and Anakapalli divisions. According to official data, the largest number of approvals was for road projects, with 528 road works covering 372.056 hectares cleared in the period.

In addition, the department approved 132 communication towers involving 14.185 hectares, 18 OFC works covering three point one two hectares and 21 water supply projects involving four point two zero one hectares. Chintapalli Division in Alluri Sitarama Raju district accounted for the largest share, recording approvals for 95 works covering 55.206 hectares in 2024-25, including 73 road projects, 16 communication towers and six OFC works. In 2025-26 up to February, the same division saw another 199 works involving 152.299 hectares approved, including 187 road projects, nine communication towers, and three OFC works.

Paderu Division recorded approvals for 226 works involving 93.561 hectares, with 130 works covering 40.716 hectares cleared in 2024-25 and 96 works involving 52.845 hectares cleared in 2025-26 up to February, mainly for road connectivity and communication infrastructure. Parvathipuram Manyam Division received approvals for 108 works covering 58.981 hectares during the period, of which 31 works involving 15.631 hectares were approved in 2024-25, while 77 works covering 43.35 hectares were cleared in 2025-26 up to February.

Srikakulam Division recorded no approvals in 2024-25, but in 2025-26, up to February, approvals were granted for 59 works covering 25.994 hectares. These included 38 road works and 21 drinking water supply projects aimed at improving water access in remote tribal areas.