Tue Nov 19 17:12:49 UTC 2024: ## Visakhapatnam to Get ₹500 Crore Road Upgrade

**Visakhapatnam, November 19, 2024** – The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) announced a ₹500 crore plan to revamp approximately 253 kilometers of its major roads over the next five years. The project, to be implemented under an Operation & Maintenance basis with annuity payments, will see a comprehensive upgrade including medians, bus stops, improved street lighting, road markings, modernized traffic signals, and CCTV installation.

GVMC Commissioner P. Sampath Kumar stated that a road assessment has categorized existing roads as poor (39.92 km), medium (116.36 km), and good (97.27 km), with priority given to improving the poorest condition roads. A single contractor will be responsible for the entire project, a model deemed successful in Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality control. The Chief Minister has already approved the project, and a detailed project report (DPR) is currently being prepared.

In addition to the road improvements, the GVMC is addressing water scarcity issues in the Madhurawada region. Currently receiving only 70 liters per capita per day (LPCD), significantly less than the city average of 110 LPCD, Madhurawada will benefit from a new water pumping project costing ₹295 crore. This project, currently seeking funding from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will involve pumping water from KBR to Narava Hill, then utilizing gravity to transport it to Mudasarlova, reducing water loss and improving supply. Furthermore, a ₹550 crore underground drainage (UGD) project for Zone II Madhurawada is also in the pipeline, with IFC funding expected within two months.

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