The construction of the green national highway NH-516E, a 406.17 km spur road of NH-16 passing through the Eastern Ghats in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, is advancing swiftly. This eco-friendly highway, using green technologies and materials like industrial waste byproducts, aims to reduce carbon footprint. Once operational, it will offer a direct route for tourists from Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru via Vijayawada to Araku and Lammasingi, bypassing Visakhapatnam and saving 100 km of travel.
The project is divided into six stretches from Rajamahendravaram to Vizianagaram, includes road paving, tree trimming, and leveling. Key segments are Rajamahendravaram-Rampachodavaram (44 km), Rampachodavaram-Kakarapadu (74 km), Kakarapadu-Lammasingi via G. Madugula to Paderu (134 km), Paderu-Kottabhalluguda (49 km), Bhalluguda-Bowdara (43 km), and Bowdara-Vizianagaram via Tatipudi (27 km).
Initiated under the World Bank-financed Green National Highways Corridor Project, the project is set to be operational by March 2025, with an estimated cost of Rs 16.70 billion.