The Centre has given the green light to widen the national highway running along the coastline from Ongole to Rajahmundry. The current NH-216 will be expanded into four-lane and six-lane highways. This expansion is expected to promote marine cargo transport and draw fresh investments into the sector, significantly benefiting coastal fishing communities in Bapatla, Krishna, and the Godavari districts.

The decision came after the director-general of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Dharmananda Sarangi, conducted an inspection of the highway. After travelling from Chirala to Kattipudi, he acknowledged the need to upgrade the road and instructed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to submit a report to the ministry. He also ordered tenders for consultants to prepare the detailed project report (DPR).

The DPR will cover the stretch from Kattipudi (near Rajahmundry) to Machilipatnam in the first phase, and from Machilipatnam to Ongole in the second phase. The first phase will cover 229 km, with the second phase covering 161 km. The entire 390 km-long highway upgrade is expected to significantly boost the regional economy by making the coastline an attractive option for marine exporters and cold chain operators.

The project will also aid the state's beach tourism sector, with numerous beach resorts already flourishing in and around Chirala town. The government is optimistic that more resorts will emerge due to the new tourism policy. Sources revealed that NHAI has decided to implement a bypass near Bhimavaram to address issues that delayed the Pamarru-Digamarru-Akiveedu stretch.