The expansion works of NH65 into a fourlane highway between Vijayawada and Machilipatnam has picked up momentum. However, the work is taking a heavy toll on the tree cover with old trees on either side of the stretch of the highway being axed with heavy machines. Expansion of the fourlane road that stretches up to a length of 64.61 km between Vijayawada and Machilipatnam began in November 2016. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,462 crore. The deadline for the project is October 2018. About a 100 acres of land is being acquired from the farmers but they are protesting. They demand better compensation. The compensation amount is different across the length of the road depending on their distance from Vijayawada. They are being paid between 6 lakh to 8 lakh per acre following a state rehabilitation policy but the farmers demand that the compensation should be given according to new land acquisition law 2013.