The Indian Government has approved the Rs7.3bn ($147m) project for four-laning of the Vijayawada-Machlipatnam section of National Highway 9 in Andhra Pradesh state.

The work is being carried out under National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) Phase IV-A on a DBFOT basis in BOT (Toll) mode.

Under the project 64.611km will be four-laned, following which the project will be awarded a 20-year operation concession including a construction period of two years.

The expansion of the highway section will help to reduce transit time and cost of travel.