Pawan Kalyan Inaugurates ₹8.91-Crore Four-Lane Road in Atmakur

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said strengthening road connectivity is essential for rural development as he virtually inaugurated a four-lane road connecting National Highway-67 to the Atmakur bypass in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district. Developed at a cost of ₹8.91 crore, the 2.2-kilometre stretch fulfils a long-standing demand of local residents and has been named Vayuputra Marg.

Speaking at the inauguration, Pawan Kalyan said the project would improve commuting facilities, ease traffic congestion and support regional development. The road works were taken up following a request from Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. The Panchayat Raj Department developed the four-lane stretch at a cost of ₹6.31 crore, while another ₹2.60 crore will be spent on a central divider, streetlights and beautification through the Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation and the Nellore Urban Development Authority.

He noted that the narrow road and potholes had caused difficulties for residents, students and farmers. The government prioritised the project to improve accessibility and provide safer, more convenient travel. The name Vayuputra Marg was chosen because a 50-foot idol of Lord Hanuman stands at a temple near the road, reflecting the religious significance of the area.

Pawan Kalyan said the government was expanding rural road infrastructure under the Palle Panduga programme. Under its first and second phases, more than 9,000 kilometres of cement concrete roads had been constructed, while approvals had been granted for 10,000 kilometres of bitumen roads.

Under Palle Panduga 3.0, approvals have been issued for another 6,000 kilometres of cement concrete roads and 9,500 kilometres of bitumen roads. The government is also prioritising 161 agricultural access roads to help farmers reach their fields more easily and reduce transportation difficulties in rural areas.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed the Panchayat Raj Department's Engineer-in-Charge to expedite proposals and necessary action for constructing a bridge on the route to Veerlagudipadu village in Sangam mandal.

He also said ₹72 crore was being allocated under the Jal Jeevan Mission–Amarajeevi Jaladhara initiative for 391 single-village water supply schemes in the Atmakur constituency.

Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Nellore Urban Development Authority Chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy, District Collector Himanshu Shukla and Panchayat Raj Department Engineer-in-Charge Balu Naik participated in the programme virtually or from the Mangalagiri camp office.