Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Unveils 29 National Highway Projects, Boosting Andhra Pradesh's Connectivity.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 29 National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh. The projects, spanning 272 km and costing over ₹5,233 crore, are a major boost to the state's infrastructure.

The ceremony, held in Mangalagiri, was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and Union MoS Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, along with other officials.

In his address, Gadkari emphasized that the new projects align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India. He stated that the highways are designed to eliminate accident-prone "black spots," remove railway crossings, reduce transportation costs, and improve connectivity to rural and tribal areas. He also highlighted that the projects will help decongest key urban centers like Tirupati, Nellore, and Rayachoty, positioning Andhra Pradesh as a leader in India's economic growth.

Gadkari also noted the significant progress made in reducing India's logistics costs, which have dropped from 16% to 10% and are projected to fall to 9% by December 2025. He attributed this improvement to better road infrastructure, which is expected to double exports and create more jobs. The Minister also pointed out that the length of National Highways under NHAI has increased by 120%, from 4,000 km in 2014 to 8,700 km in 2025, demonstrating the government's strong commitment to infrastructure-led economic growth.