Vijayawada: On Thursday a committee led by municipal administration P Narayana recommended Light Metro Rail system and elevated corridor for all 77 km lines as part of Amaravati Metro Rail project after discussing various transport options.
The Vijayawada metro, which has been in a limbo, gained impetus with the Steering Committee, constituted for the project execution, finalising the preliminarily structure of the project.
The meeting recommended corridor from KC canal junction to Amaravati capital city with 27 km with both Elevated and Underground options. The minister also suggested that to officials to study the advantages and disadvantages of both options of taking the corridor. The matter will be finalized after discussion with Chief Minister next week.
The four options proposed by the consultants preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the metro rail, the Steering Committee told the Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) to go ahead with an elevated light metro system.
The project has been proposed in three corridors in and around Vijayawada with a total length of 77 km. In the committee meeting held on Thursday, Municipal Minister P Narayana suggested that the consultant — Systra Consultants — examine the extension of one of the corridors to Amaravati.
According to the interim DPR submitted by Systra, four options – At-grade, elevated, underground, and combination of elevated and underground – were suggested. It also suggested that the State government could go with Light Rail Transit (LRT) or Light Metro. “The committee examined the phase-A of the DPR submitted on October 25 and suggested to go for Light Metro system and Elevated corridor for all 77.2 km of corridors,” a press release from Minister Narayana’s office said. Narayana is the chairman of the Steering Committee.
The three corridors proposed by the consultants include Amaravati – Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) – Nidamanuru-Gannavaram (52 km), PNBS – Penamaluru (12.5 km) and Railway Station – Jakkampudi (12.2 km). According to the press release, Minister Narayana, on the occasion, suggested the inclusion of cost estimates for the corridor from Krishna Canal (KC) junction to Amaravati Capital city – about 27 km – with both options of the elevated and underground metro.
“Minister Narayana also suggested that a study is conducted on the advantages and disadvantages of having an underground line near the airport while the remaining corridors would be elevated,” the press release said.
