Pandemic, fund crunch take a toll on Vizag Metro
The first phase consisting of 46.40 km, as per the revised plans, will be completed by 2025 subject to clearances from the competent authorities
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: The pandemic and fund crunch faced by the Andhra Pradesh Government may further delay the grounding of the works for the Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project.
Ever since it was conceived during the erstwhile government, it has turned jinxed due to one reason or the other. Metro Man E Sreedharan's efforts, after his appointment as an advisor to the government, to take up work for Visakhapatnam and Amaravati metro projects also did not yield the desired results. Funding issues led to the rejection of the proposals by the Centre in 2015 notwithstanding the fact that the Telugu Desam Party, was an ally of the BJP in the NDA coalition at that time.
As per the latest proposals mooted by Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (APMRC), which is mandated to take up metro work in Visakhapatnam and Amaravati, the project will be taken up in phases after tying up with some agencies for funding. Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) is preparing the revised DPR for the 140-km mass rail transport system comprising 79.9 km of light metro rail system. The total project including that of a tram corridor on the beach road is estimated at around Rs 20,000 crore. Any further delay may result in cost escalation.
"Once implemented this project will be unique with several stations converting into commercial hubs with multiplex-type infrastructure. The corridors proposed under the project will be totally green like the Nagpur Metro System, now in the advanced stage of implementation," an official of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) told Bizz Buzz.
This will also be the largest metro project to be taken up on PPP mode. Sources said the attempts to obtain funding from external agencies mainly from South Korea have not fructified yet.
The first phase consisting of 46.40 km, as per the revised plans, will be completed by 2025 subject to clearances from the competent authorities. The master plan for the project envisages construction of 79.91 km light metro corridor and 60 km of tram corridor. Separate DPRs are being made for metro and tram corridor projects. Their finalisation--DPR for 79.9-lm light metro rail system and 60-km catenary-free (without overhead equipment) and tram stations--is likely by year-end.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is keen to make executive capital operational in Visakhapatnam, has directed the officials to prioritise the implementation of metro rail project as well as Bhogapuram International Airport, Beach Corridor and Godavari water diversion.
