Andhra Pradesh govt approves double-decker metro rail for Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government is getting ready for metro rail projects in both Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

The review meeting on the issue of funds for the metro rail project held by the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, at the State Secretariat here on Thursday, approved the double-decker metro system project for an extent of 66 km in Vijayawada for 76.9 km long in Visakhapatnam. Managing Director of Metro rail corporation, N Ramakrishna Reddy, made a detailed presentation on the metro rail project.

The Chief Minister discussed the system of funding of the metro rail as per the provisions of the policy adopted in 2017 and said that before this came into existence there was no system of 100 per cent Central funding for the metro rail projects. Naidu clearly mentioned that after the new policy came into existence in 2017.

Pointing out that metro rail project is clearly proposed for Andhra Pradesh even in the State Reorganisation Act, the Chief Minister felt that either as per the provisions of the Reorganisation Act or as per the policy adopted in 2017, the Centre will have to extend all kinds of assistance for the metro rail in the state. He also said that he will soon hold discussions with the Centre towards this effect.

A decision has already been taken to take up the metro rail project both in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam on a double-decker system, particularly where the metro rail has to pass through national and state highways. In the first phase this double-decker system in Visakhapatnam will be for 15 km from Madhurawada to Thatichetlapalem and for another four km from Gajuwaka to Visakha Steel Plant.

Similarly, in Vijayawada this double-decker system will be for 4.7-km-long from Ramavarappadu Ring Road to Nidamanuru. Since this system is already in existence in different metro cities in the country, the state government has decided to implement the same here too.

At Thursday's meeting, the Chief Minister directed the officials to complete the necessary discussions with the Centre soon and launch the metro rail works both in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam at the earliest possible. Naidu is keen that the metro rail should come into operation at least in the next four years.