The VijayawadaMachilipatnam National Highway expansion project was proposed in 2009. The initial plan was to expand the existing road, which passes through three towns and eight villages in Vijayawada and Machilipatnam cities, to connect it to the upcoming port of Machilipatnam. The plan involved the demolition of several houses along the road, which led to protests in 2018. Hundreds of traders and building owners were estimated to incur losses due to the demolition. According to them, only one notification was given to acquire land in six villages. There was also variation in the compensation amount promised. Land owners of four villages were promised less compensation than the market rate. They demanded that they should be given a suitable amount as per the LARR Act, 2013. Following the protests, a new plan was introduced, which proposed that the highway pass through agricultural land rather than settlements.
In March 2019, the families that feared demolition of their houses were relieved as they would now be compensated for the agricultural land lost. The farmers were finally paid compensation amounting to a total of INR 500 crore from the initial estimate of INR 83.01 crore. This was after the farmers protested, laying down the condition that agricultural land could be acquired only with fair compensation. The families who feared demolition are comforted now that their demands have been fulfilled and their worries addressed by the government. The NH68 expansion project is nearing completion.