CII holds session to discuss traffic woes in Vizag, flyovers over NH mooted

Visakhapatnam At. a stakeholders consultation meeting for easing traffic and improve road connectivity organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Visakhapatnam YV Subba Reddy ex–Chairman, TTD Devasthanam spoke on the rapid development of the city and the accompanying surge in traffic issues.

To tackle this, he called upon the authorities to devise a long-term plan to regulate the escalating number of vehicles in the city, including public transport.

To address immediate concerns, Reddy urged authorities to formulate short-term plans, including the construction of 12 flyovers along NH-16 passing through the city.

He also stressed the importance of resolving issues around encroachment at key intersections and advised relocating businesses to alternative areas to facilitate intersection development.

Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath shed light on the impact of industrial growth, with around 95,000 people working in Achutapuram, 100,000 in the steel plant, and 30,000 at the port, contributing to increased goods and passenger vehicles. The Minister ruled out the possibility of a ring road around Visakhapatnam but proposed exploring the construction of a ring road in semilunar shape.

He also mentioned considering a tunnel from Narasimhanagar to BSR BRTS in Health City by excavating a hill, aiming to reduce traffic congestion.

Amarnath urged Police Department to collaborate on a short-term traffic control plan, focusing on improving key junctions. He assured the Government's support for road safety measures and recommended setting up tractor terminals within the city.

In his welcome address, Dr. PP Lal Krishna, Chairman, CII Visakhapatnam said in today's ever-changing global environment, the convergence of strategic urban planning, streamlined freight transportation, and sustainable economic advancement becomes increasingly vital. He also underscored for a well-structured and effective traffic management system, coupled with road safety measures and an efficient road network, is an essential requirement for sustaining industrial growth within this region.

Delivering a theme address, Ragham Kishore, Past Chairman, CII Visakhapatnam said elevated corridors play a pivotal role in addressing the growing problem of traffic congestion in urban areas. Their importance stems from the numerous benefits they offer, which extend to the broader aspects of transportation, urban planning, and economic development:

G. Sambasiva Rao, Convenor, Infrastructure & Logistics Panel, CII AP said that there is a need for more parking terminals in PPP mode to reduce traffic congestions on the roads with a vision of future growth in Vizag. He also suggested setting up a Private Bus Depo between Madhurawada and Anandapuram in similar lines of Koyambedu Private Bus Terminus in Chennai to decongest the city public transportation system.

GVMC Commissioner CM Saikanth Varma said the government is quite serious about free flow of traffic movement especially when the CMOs office is shifting to Visakhapatnam. The proposed 12 flyovers across the city will be completed by National Highways and will be handed over to GVMC for maintenance of suitable future.

District Collector A Mallikarjuna expressed that if all the stakeholders, including the VMRDA, GVMC and the National Highways Authority of India can successfully implement their plans, Visakhapatnam will see the establishment of a Semilunar-shaped Ring Road (SRR) to cater to the needs of its expanding population.

According to preliminary blueprints, the SRR's commencement will be at Pudimadaka Beach in Anakapalli district, situated in the city's southern region, and its termination will occur at Bhogapuram Beach in Vizianagaram district.