Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 1 of 7

Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010

Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0

Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

CHAPTER 3

3.0 RECONNAISSANCE, SURVEYS, DATA COLLECTION AND DISCUSSIONS

3.1 Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance survey had been conducted through out the entire reach of the project
area including arterial / sub-arterial and other roads around project zone and also in
probable bypass locations. With a view to appreciate the general environment, physical
parameters, land use and development status of the areas in general as well as to help in
identifying and assessing the relative strength and weakness of possible alternative
alignment options through an on-site evaluation including the problems, shortcomings,
possible solutions along with probable road / canal crossing locations, the consultants
team, led by senior professionals, made a close reconnaissance of the study areas in
general, and segments of the possible alignments in particular. Other objectives of the
reconnaissance were to refine and firming up the methodology and data requirement. The
reconnaissance exercise, held on a number of occasions coupled with study of available
maps helped the consultants to have a thorough appreciation of the project areas and
environs, suitability or other wise of the alignments to fulfill the project objective in a most
economic, practicable, socially and environment-friendly way in the context of the present
road and rail network along with access there to, with anticipated development in the study
area, traffic pattern, land use distribution and density of present development.
Requirements and possible problems of the alignments like land acquisition, difficult
crossings, existing services, environmental hazards were also studied.

3.2 Surveys

3.2.1 Preliminary Ground Survey

New Alignments - Using Hand Held GPS

In order to establish the preferred alignment for the bypass along with reconnaissance the
consultants did preliminary ground survey mainly to locate the alignment route through
latitude-longitude of cardinal / direction change points and in turn to do some preliminary
geometric design. For this purpose, hand held GPS (GARMIN make) has been used by the
survey team, which provides fairly accurate and acceptable results in fixing the alternate
routes and cardinal points on the ground.

Ground Survey was done to check / update and supplement the available Satellite imagery
including an account of structures and physical features falling within proposed ROW and
land use pattern. The study area is falling in plain and hilly terrain. However, considering

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 2 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010

Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0

Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

ease of construction as well as environmental concern, routes through hills have been
avoided during the alignment study

Besides the above exercise, the ground survey program also included:
i) Finding out of co-ordinates and bearings of various node and segments
ii) Measuring of distances from node to node and segment length.
iii) Checking of distances of the alignments from existing Railway Line / other major
Roads / other fixed base line as well as other cardinal points.

Existing Roads Road Inventory

A detailed inventory of the existing roads around the project area has been prepared
through dimensional measurements and visual inspection to assess the existing status.
Features like kilometer-age, terrain, land-use, width of pavement and shoulders, general
pavement condition, average height of embankment, geometric deficiencies, important road
junctions, railway level crossings, ROB and RUB and utilities. The detailed inventory data
have been included as Annexure 3.1 and Broad findings are presented in Table 3.1.

Photographs of project area and its adjoining roads showing existing scenario is presented
in Plate 3.1.

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

 Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 3 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010
Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0
Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

Table: 3.1 Broad Findings

Sl. Average Average Average

Length Average Emb. Number of
No Road Section Carriageway shoulder Average Land Use Pavement
(km) Height (m) structures
. Width width (m) Condition

Left Right Left Right Left Right

(NH-5 Bypass) :Anakapalley to
Anandapuram
Agriculture/Pl
Agriculture/Plan Culverts 95
1 50.2 7.2m 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.8 antation/Built Good
(i) Anakapalle - Sabbavaram MDR tation/Built up Bridges - 10
up
(ii) Sabbavaram Anandapuram
SH-38
km 1 to km 9.8 -
Beach Road - Port Area - 6.5m Residential / Culverts 58
2 31.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 0.8 Bay of Bengal Good
Bheemunipatnam km 9.8 to km 31 - Commercial Bridges - 16
15.0m
G.N.T Road - Hindusthan Shipyard to Residential / Residential / Culverts 4
3 6.4 18m 1.5 1.5 - - Good
Gajuwaka Commercial Commercial Bridges - nil
km 0 to km 6.0 -
30.0m
km 6 to km 9 - Residential / Residential / Culverts 55
4 Hanumantwaka to Vizag City 34.8 1.5 1.5 0.3 0.3 Good
22.0m Commercial Commercial Bridges - 6
km 9 to km 15 -
8.0m
Open /
Open /
Bowdra Ring Road to Convent Residential / Culverts 15
5 7.9 6m 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 Residential / Good
Junction Road Commercial / Bridges - 1
Commercial
Hill

km 0 to km 5 - Open /
Open /
7.0m Residential / Culverts 23
6 Lankela Palem to Asakapalley 11.2 1.0 1.0 0.6 0.5 Residential / Fair
km 5 to km 11.2 - Commercial / Bridges - 4
Commercial
3.5m Hill

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

 Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 4 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010
Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0
Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

Residential / Residential / Culverts 106

7 MDR 24 : Sabbavaram Road 46.2 7.25m x 2 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 Commercial / Commercial / Very good Bridges 3
Agriculture Agriculture Causeways - 4

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 5 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010

Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0

Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

The inventory is essentially included to collect physical information on the road and its
environment for enabling preliminary assessment of the existing roads as a potential
candidate of bypass or its part. The Strip Plans have been prepared based on these data.

3.2.2 Study of Social Issues

Preliminary socio-economic survey was conducted to select the best route among various
alternatives for proposed bypass. As a preliminary study the survey was restricted within
the strip of 60m ROW in all segments to find out number of different types of buildings,
types of lands, ponds, crossings and collection of general land value of different categories.
Since all the alignments are in a preliminary stage and this exercise is rather limited to
comparative alignment study only, sample household survey is not considered necessary
and as such socio-economic survey was not extended at this level. In general preliminary
survey shows that all the segments are passing through basically a community of middle
and low-income groups and as such would seek for resettlement against their houses /
properties. The outcome of the social studies, basically an account of land and structures
to be acquired, is presented in Chapter 5.0. This data has been utilized for comparison of
alternative alignments corridors.

3.2.3 Initial Environmental Set-up

Field survey was carried out to study the environmental set-up along the different
alternative alignments. It includes land use pattern, drainages, presence of sensitive areas
i.e. schools etc. The findings are presented in Chapter 5.0 and have been utilized for
comparison of alternative alignments.

3.3 Mapping

The reconnaissance study is fully dependent upon the quantity and quality of existing data.
For this purpose base mapping is a prime necessity. Topographic sheets from Survey of
India (restricted ones could not be collected by the consultant not made available by the
consultants) but photographic aerial mosaics in the form of satellite imagery (downloaded
through Google Earth Pro software) were collected for study zones. This satellite imagery
showing different types of areas like ponds, roads, building clusters and open fields proved
to be very helpful. Accuracy of these maps was also studied with reference to some
permanent features. Then alternative alignment proposals were plotted on this map from
latitude-longitude of cardinal points through software. Alternative proposals on these aerial
mosaics are shown in the accompanying drawings.

3.4 Data Collection

To conduct the alternative alignment study successfully, the consultants have already
collected several data from various agencies / departments. These are listed below. In

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 6 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010

Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0

Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

addition to these the consultants have downloaded information related to the project from
official web sites of Andhra Pradesh Government and its various departments.
1. Draft Feasibility Study Report, Jan 2009 by M/s Aarvee Associates for 6-laning of NH-5
from Srikakulam to Visakhaptnam.
2. Final Feasibility Report, May 2009, by M/s Egis Bceom International Ltd. For 6-laning of
selected stretches from Visakhapatnam Anakapalle Rajahmundry of National
Highways.
3. Revised Master Plan for Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region, 2021 including map
section (purchased from VUDA).
4. City Development Plan (downloaded from internet)
5. List of projects identified by VUDA for onwards approval to get JNNURM funding
6. Brief note on Visakhapatnam BRTS, January 2010 (GVMC)
7. Visakhapatnam district map (from R&B Department)
8. Map showing propose tunnel across Simachalam Hill (from GVMC)
9. Revised traffic data (from Lion Consultants)
10. Ward boundaries of GVMC map (from GVMC)
11. Statistics of registered vehicles in Vizag during 2009, Transport department,
Government of Visakhapatnam
12. Satellite imageries downloaded through Google Earth Pro software
13. Schedule of rates for R&B (soft copy collected from Lion Consultant)

3.5 Discussions / meetings

During the alternative alignment study the Consultants have discussed various issues of
the project including different schemes to the Government officials and other agencies.
Brief list of the officials whom the Consultants met are presented below:
1. The Chief General Manager CGM, (R O), NHAI Hyderabad
2. The Project Director (PD), NHAI (MORTH), Visakhapatnam
3. The Chief General Manager, NHAI, HQ
4. The General Manager (Tech), NHAI, HQ
5. Vice Chairman, VUDA
6. Officer on Special Duty (PMU), VUDA
7. Chief Urban Planner, VUDA
8. SE, Roads and Bridges Department (Govt of AP)
9. DSE, Roads and Bridges Department (Govt of AP)
10. AEE, Roads and Bridges Department (Govt of AP)
11. Chief City Planner, GVMC
12. SE, Projects, GVMC

During all the above meetings, in general following points / issues were discussed:

a) Ring road for Visakhapatnam is not a practical solution because of its geographical
location.

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS

Project: FSR-cum-Preliminary Design for construction of Stand Alone Ring 7 of 7
Road / Bypass for Visakhapatnam under NHDP Phase VII September 2010

Document: 2010033/RH/AAS/Chapter 3 Revision: R0

Reconnaissance, Surveys, Data Collection and Discussions

b) Alignment options for proposed bypass

c) State Governments proposal, if any
d) Conducting traffic surveys after in principal approval of alignment
e) Request for help during field work and study
f) Request for arrange of secondary data and earlier reports from various departments

More meetings will be held in due course as and when necessary with related agencies.

ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT STUDY REPORT ROADS AND HIGHWAYS