Gadkari Launches Rs 5,233 Crore Highway Projects In Andhra Pradesh

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday (2 August) launched a slew of infrastructure initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, including 29 National Highway projects covering 272 km at an investment of over Rs 5,233 crore.

The foundation stone ceremony in Mangalagiri was attended by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and other senior leaders.

Among the key projects unveiled, the Madanapalle–Pileru stretch of NH‑71 has been upgraded to a 56 km, four-lane corridor at a cost of Rs 1,994 crore, featuring nine flyovers, a rail overbridge, and 19 major bridges.

The Kurnool–Mandlem section of NH‑340C was also expanded to four lanes across 31 km at a cost of Rs 858 crore, including four viaducts and several underpasses.

Addressing the gathering, Gadkari stated, “Aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, these projects are designed to eliminate accident-prone black spots and railway crossings, reduce transportation costs, strengthen last-mile connectivity in rural and tribal areas, and decongest key urban centres such as Tirupati, Nellore, and Rayachoty—thereby positioning Andhra Pradesh at the forefront of India’s growth story.”

Gadkari also expressed optimism about India’s logistics cost, saying that India’s cost of logistics would come down to less than 10 per cent by the end of December.

He noted that China’s logistics cost stood at about 8 per cent and the US at 12 per cent, stressing that the lesser the logistics cost, the more competitive would be the Indian economy to take on China and the US.

He said the government was expediting the transition from fossil fuels to electric mobility and biofuels while enhancing highways, seaports, and inland water routes, the most economical mode of transport.

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