Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Thursday that the Centre has approved an investment of Rs 963.93 crore for the construction of a six-lane, access-controlled highway in Visakhapatnam district.

The highway project aims to improve connectivity between the Anakapalle-Anandapuram NH-16 corridor and Sheelanagar Junction on NH-516C. Gadkari shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting that the highway will span 12.66 km, starting from the eastern side of Sabbavaram village and ending near the GAIL office at Sheelanagar Junction, which lies along the existing port road. "This corridor will eliminate traffic disruptions, promote smooth cargo evacuation, and separate Sheelanagar-Anandapuram traffic, greatly enhancing access to Visakhapatnam Port and boosting logistical efficiency," said Gadkari.

Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan expressed his gratitude to Gadkari via X. He referred to the highway as a "transformative project," underscoring its potential to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity to the port. He credited the project's progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, pointing out that Andhra Pradesh is making impressive strides in infrastructure development.