Works on NH-5 expansion into 6 lane to beign soon

Eluru: West Godavari District Collector Dr G Vani Mohan sought the cooperation of people in expanding the four-lane National Highway-5 into 6-lane. She was participating at a meeting to elicit public opinion on the expansion work and environmental issues involved in the work at Kalaparru village of Pedpadu mandal.

Speaking on the occasion, she tried to impress upon the need for roads for overall development of the area. The villages on the national highway will get additional facilities with the expansion of the road.

The Collector said the four-lane National Highway Number 5 from Chennai to Kolkata would be expanded to six-lane. The 79 km road from Vijayawada to Gundugolanu in West Godavari district would be expanded in the first phase, she said.

As part of this exercise, the Collector sought the cooperation of the farmers who own lands abutting the road to part with their land for laying the road. She directed the officials belonging to the Environment Department to take steps to protect the environment in the process.

She promised to extend liberal compensation to those farmers whose lands were acquired for the expansion work.

National Highway Authority of India Vijayawada Project Director informed that the Centre had given green signal for the 79 km- long expansion work between Vijayawada and Gundugolanu of which 34 kms fell under West Godavari district. The work will be taken on build, operate and transfer basis (BOT).

Gammon India will execute the work. A foot over-bride for the benefit of people would be constructed at Denduluru village, he disclosed. He said about 89 hectares of land was required for expansion in West Godavari district and 8000 trees would have to be felled in the expansion work.

According to the norms prescribed by the Forest Department, for every tree felled, two trees have to be planted. But in the case of highway expansion work, for every tree removed, three trees need to be planted.

And steps would be taken to plant 24000 trees along the road, he said. He said the toll plaza would be established at Kalaparru village after completion of the expansion work.

Both the District Collector and the project director of the national highway authority, Vijayawada, interacted with the farmers and the villagers whose lands were to be acquired under the project.

The farmers urged the District Collector as most of the farmers who lose lands under the project are either small or marginal farmers, they must be given liberal compensation.

They also wanted steps against containing pollution levels on the national highway after completion of the work.