Vizag Metro Rail: Comprehensive mobility plan submitted to Centre, says minister

VIJAYAWADA: Vizag’s metro rail project is set to take off soon in a developmental boost to the coastal city. This was stated by urban development minister P. Narayana in the state assembly session on Wednesday. He said the work would start soon.

"As of now, the responsibility for the Visakhapatnam Metro DPR has been handed over to the Visakhapatnam Metro Transport Corporation. They have outlined an ambitious plan for a total metro network of 76.9km," Narayana stated.

TD MLAs Palla Srinivas Rao, PGVR Naidu and Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu raised questions on the metro rail project. In his reply, Narayana said, “The long-awaited Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project is poised for a fresh start. The Comprehensive Mobility Plan has been submitted to the central government. "The detailed project report, covering four metro rail corridors, has been finalized and the estimated cost is Rs 14,300 crore.”

Narayana also pointed out that feasibility reports for metro projects in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam had been mandated in accordance with the 13th Schedule, Item 12 of the Partition Act. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was tasked with preparing the DPR in 2014. “It proposed a medium metro network spanning 42.5km across three corridors. The report was submitted to the Andhra Pradesh government in 2015. Several companies submitted bids for the project in 2019, but the progress failed to take off.”

The urban development minister said, "We are seeking central government funding for the project, similar to the Kolkata Metro model."

He also highlighted the need to address traffic congestion at Car Shed, Endada, Hanumanthuwaka, Maddilapalem, Wipro Junction etc and proposed two-level metro stations at strategic locations.

The minister explained, “Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu had made significant moves to secure funding. He sent letters to the Prime Minister, proposing a metro network of 46.23km for the initial phase. This first phase includes three key corridors: from the Steel Plant to Kommadi Junction (34.4km), Gurdwara to Old Post Office (5.07km), and Thatichetlapalem to Chinna Walther (6.75km). The cost is collectively estimated at Rs 11,498 crore.”

In addition, plans for a second phase include a 30.67km route with 12 stations stretching from Kommadi Junction to the Bhogapuram Airport.

“With the comprehensive mobility plan now submitted to the Centre, the Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project is expected to gain momentum, offering a much-needed solution to the city's growing transportation challenges,” he said.

Narayana explained the total length of 4 corridors in Visakhapatnam is 76.90 KMs under which Corridor-1 is Steel plant Jn- Kommadi of 34.40km. For Corridor-2, the length of the Guruwara Jn-RTC Complex-Old post office is 5.10km. For Corridor-3, the length of the Tadichetlapalem-Vizag Rly Station - Chinna Waltair stretch is 6.70km. For Corridor-4, the Kommadi- Bhogapuram Airport stretch has a length of 30.67km. Some 54 Metro Stations and 2 maintenance depots have been proposed.

The minister said the updated cost of the project was Rs 17,232cr as per the 2024 price level. Initially, a 2-car rail system, expandable to a 4-car system, is proposed. The advantages are: cost-saving by 20 per cent in CAPEX and 25 per cent in OPEX compared to the Medium Metro System.

Regarding the land component for the project, the minister said, “Under Phase-l- (1, 2 & 3 corridors), the total project land would be 99.75 acres. This includes 9.20 acres of private land. The cost is Rs 882 crore (or) grant of TDR rights.”

Narayana added that, under Phase-II- (4th corridor), the total project land would be 6.15 acres including 2.69 acres of private land. The cost is Rs 23 crore (or) grant of TDR rights.