Extended delay in Vijayawada bypass road completion

The completion of the Vijayawada Bypass has been a prolonged process, causing inconvenience to the residents of Guntur, Krishna, and NTR districts, as well as other commuters. Delays have been encountered in the construction of both sections of the bypass road: one between Chinnakakani and Gollapudi, connecting Guntur and NTR districts, and the other between Gollapudi and Chinna Avutapalli. These delays have prompted extensions of the initial deadlines. The 47.88-kilometer six-lane stretch of the new national highway, which spans from Chinnakakani in Guntur district to Chinna Avutapalli in Krishna district via Gollapudi in NTR district, acts as a crucial link between Hyderabad-Machilipatnam (NH 65) and Chennai-Kolkata (NH-16). This route, located at Gollapudi, serves as a bypass for both national highways that pass directly through Vijayawada. The contracts for the 30-kilometre Chinna Avutapalli-Gollapudi segment and the 17.88-kilometre Chinnakakani-Gollapudi segment were assigned to contractors in February 2021 and July 2021, respectively, under the Hybrid Annuity Mode. As indicated by reports from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), while the work on the Chinna Avutapalli-Gollapudi stretch is nearing completion, it has encountered a delay of at least five more months. The delay is attributed to issues involving power lines intersecting the area at multiple points within the NTR district. The NHAI is awaiting clearance from the relevant corporations to proceed with the project. The original completion date of February 2023 was extended to August 2023, and due to approximately 90% of the work being finished, the deadline has once again been pushed to January 31, 2024. Meanwhile, the Chinnakakani-Gollapudi stretch is anticipated to be finalized only by 2025 if the construction adheres to the outlined schedule. Originally set for completion in January 2024, the NHAI has postponed the deadline for the Rs 11.94 billion project to April 14, 2025. Despite its relatively shorter length, this segment presents a unique challenge: the construction of a three-kilometre iconic bridge across the Krishna River, connecting Surayapalem in NTR district and Venkatapalem in Guntur district. Additionally, this stretch intersects the seed access road in the capital region and converges with NH-16 near Kaza tollgate. A noteworthy feature is that the entire stretch is designed with the possibility of future expansion to eight lanes. Also read:  Mavala Tunnel Boring Machine successfully dismantled after breakthroughNHAI and Assam Forest Department collaborate for greener highways