New airport link spurs flyover, wider roads at busy Anandapuram junction

Visakhapatnam: Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced that the state govt is taking concrete steps toward a permanent solution to traffic congestion at Anandapuram junction. Located nearly 25 kilometres from the city, the junction has been witnessing heavy traffic volumes and hours-long jams, as it hosts a flower market and serves as a key access point to the Srikakulam–Vizianagaram routes, Visakhapatnam highway, and the Anakapalli highway.On Friday, the MLA, along with district collector MN Harendhira Prasad, inspected the junction and nearby flower markets. Srinivasa Rao noted that Anandapuram junction will gain greater significance once the Bhogapuram international airport becomes operational within the next three months."To prevent future bottlenecks, authorities are implementing a structured plan. Works to ensure smooth vehicular movement from the city and Anakapalli highway to the airport will begin within a week to ten days and are expected to be completed in two months. As part of the long-term solution, the road at Anandapuram junction will be widened. Administrative approval has already been granted for a proposed flyover, which is expected to be completed within two years. Plans are also underway to consolidate nearby land parcels for a modern flower market, vegetable market, spacious parking facilities, and cold storage infrastructure," said the MLA.To ease current traffic pressure, discussions were held on relocating the flower market to a 95-cent site designated for a nearby Rythu Bazaar. The possibility of utilising adjacent land belonging to the SC Corporation is also under consideration. Officials were advised to undertake expansion works beneath the proposed flyover as an interim measure. Joint collector G. Vidyadhari and officials from the NHAI, police, and revenue departments were also present during the inspection.