Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor Showcases Engineering Excellence and Wildlife Protection in Chhattisgarh

January 28, 2026 : A delegation of journalists from Raipur recently visited the construction sites of the Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor, gaining a close look at Chhattisgarh’s first six-lane, access-controlled highway and the extensive safety and environmental measures built into the project.

The corridor is a major infrastructure initiative spanning 464 km with a total investment of ₹16,491 crore. Designed to directly connect industrial clusters of central India with the Visakhapatnam Port, the project is expected to play a key role in accelerating regional economic growth. During the visit, journalists inspected the 125 km stretch within Chhattisgarh, which is being developed under three major packages from Jhanki to Marangpuri at an estimated cost of ₹4,146 crore.

Addressing the media, Regional Officer of NHAI Chhattisgarh, Shri Pradeep Kumar Lal, said the corridor represents more than just road construction. He described it as a commitment to sustainable development, where modern engineering is balanced with environmental responsibility. According to him, special attention has been given to protecting wildlife, with features such as monkey canopies, animal underpasses, and overpasses integrated into the design.

A standout element of the project is the 2.79 km twin-tube tunnel passing through the Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. The tunnel has been planned to ensure that the natural tiger corridor remains undisturbed while providing a faster and safer route through challenging hilly terrain. Once the corridor is completed, travel time between Raipur and Visakhapatnam is expected to come down from nearly 12 hours to about 6–7 hours, leading to fuel savings and a significant reduction in carbon emissions.

To further enhance road safety, NHAI has incorporated advanced infrastructure and technology along the route. Traffic Impact Attenuators have been installed to reduce the severity of accidents, while modern camera-based monitoring systems will help ensure smooth and secure traffic movement. The highway has been designed for a speed limit of 100 kmph and includes several first-of-its-kind features for the state, including its first road tunnel developed with a strong focus on minimizing ecological impact.

The corridor is expected to provide a major boost to the iron ore sector of Chhattisgarh by enabling faster and more efficient transportation of minerals to the coast. It will also significantly improve connectivity for tribal and aspirational districts such as Dhamtari, Kanker, and Kondagaon.

Construction work is progressing steadily, and the Chhattisgarh sections of the project are expected to be completed in phases between April and November 2026.