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The upcoming Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor is set to change the way people and goods move across central and eastern India.
Developed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, the 465-kilometre, six-lane Greenfield highway will link Raipur in Chhattisgarh with Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, cutting travel time by almost half. Once complete in December 2026, the corridor will shorten the current 597-kilometre route with the existing NH-26 to 465 km, saving 132 kilometres and reducing the 12-hour journey to just five hours. According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways release, the Rs 16,482 crore project, part of the PM Gati Shakti vision, aims to create seamless logistics and faster access between key industrial and port cities. By directly connecting industries in Chhattisgarh and Odisha to the Visakhapatnam Port and the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway, it is expected to boost exports, trade, and supply chain efficiency. As per the ministry, this shorter and faster route will also result in major fuel savings and reduced costs for both public and freight transporters. The corridor passes through the forests of Chhattisgarh, the mineral-rich lands of Odisha, and the hilly terrains of Andhra Pradesh, connecting regions such as Dhamtari, Keshkal, Kanker, Borigumma, Nabarangpur, and Araku. For these tribal and remote districts, the new road means quicker access to markets, jobs, and essential services. Designed for speeds up to 100 km per hour, it will also reduce congestion on the old NH-26 and make travel safer and smoother. For transporters, the difference will be felt every day. A lorry owner who often sends goods between Raipur and Visakhapatnam says, "Earlier, the journey took one-and-a-half days. Now, I can start during the day and reach the destination by night." He adds that lower fuel use and less wear on trucks will provide much-needed financial relief for drivers and small operators. The corridor's effect is not limited to the transport sector. It is also reshaping the lives of farmers and local residents. A farmer from the project area says, "Our land was valued at around 15 lakh per acre earlier. Now it is close to 1.5 crore. Farmers here are genuinely happy." The release quoted another farmer from Jami village in Vizianagaram district, saying, "I have given 1.10 acres of land for the greenfield highway, for which I have got fair compensation. Further, the land value of remaining land has significantly increased." (ANI)
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