Foundation for Vizag metro rail project in February?

The much talked about Vizag metro rail project is likely to have its stone laid in February 2019. In a review meeting held on Wednesday, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Karikal Valaven, informed that the intention is to operate the 8300-crore project by December 2023.

Valaven further informed that 21 January 2019 would be the last date to submit the bids for the Vizag metro rail project, which would be taken over in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

Vizag metro rail is proposed to be constructed over a stretch of 42.55 km in the city. Reportedly, 38 stations have been planned to be set up along the three corridors where the metro rails would operate. The first corridor is being planned to be constructed from Gajuwaka to Kommadi (31 km). The second corridor would be constructed along the route of Gurudwara-Old Post Office (5.55 km) while the final corridor would extend from Thatichetlapalem-Chinna Waltair (6 km).

Vizag Collector Pravin Kumar, VMRDA Commissioner Basanth Kumar, GVMC Commissioner M Hari Narayanan, and Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director N.P. Ramakrishna Reddy were among others who participated in the meeting.

Reddy informed that there was no problem when it came to land allocation as most of it belongs to the government. He also said that while permission from the railways was given, a No Objection Certificate was awaited the National Highways Authority of India. Also, the state government will be fetching a loan from the Korean government for the execution of the project.