Hiked toll charges in parallel to NAD flyover construction works? Not a good combo!

The much-awaited NAD flyover in Visakhapatnam is, reportedly, being constructed as per plans. For ensuring hassle-free conductance of the construction works, the officials also implemented a few a traffic restrictions and diversions at the prime junction of the city.

The newly introduced traffic diversions are expected to last upto two years until the NAD flyover reaches its final stages of completion. Here are the alternate routes to be taken for those thravelling through the NAD junction.

• Those travelling to and fro Visakhapatnam airport and Gajuwaka, Anakapalli will have to use the routes through Convent junction, Port Road, and Sheelanagar.
• The drivers travelling to Gopalapatnam, Pendurthi, Sabbavaram, Kothavalsa, and Araku, will have to opt for the route through Adivivaram, Central Jail road, and Hanumanthavaka junction.
• The heavy and goods vehicles travelling from Kolkata, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram to Anakapalli, Chennai, Vijayawada, should use the way through Anandapuram via Pendurthi and Sabbavaram.
• The heavy and goods vehicles travelling from Anakapalli to Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram should divert to Anandapuram via Pendurthi, Sabbavaram.

However, with the toll charges at these alternate routes being hiked off late, the denizens have been finding it tough to convey to their desired destinations. Much to the agony of many denizens of Visakhapatnam, the toll charges on the Port road have been increased recently. Generally, the percentage of increase in toll charge is 20% but the rates have been doubled compared to normal charges. The to and fro rate for a car used to be Rs 27 and has been doubled to Rs 54. While the to and fro toll rate for a bus was Rs 95 earlier, it has now been hiked to Rs 189.

Responding over the same, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who was recently in the city, said he would always hold the interests of the Visakhapatnam people as the top priority. The CM asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Port to put the increase in toll charges on hold for at least a year given the traffic diversions due to the NAD flyover works.

Due to the increased toll charges, some people have also started avoiding these alternate routes and began travelling through the NAD junction once again causing severe traffic congestion at the junction.