Amaravati: The Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) is taking calculated move and is preparing a strong plan for construction of Vizag Metro. This comes in wake of the mistakes made during the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project in Telangana. AMRC is putting down every minute detail and is seeking help of experts to prepare the report.
The reports will also consider operating losses and based on expert advice mention recommended changes while preparing draft for Vizag Metro Rail Project. As per preliminary plan, the Vizag Metro Rail project will be completed into three corridors covering 42.55 km and the approximate project cost is estimated at Rs 8,800 crore. This cost excludes the land and the R&D cost that will be incurred while constructing the project.
The government recommends financing civil infrastructure while the private developer will make investment in non-civil infrastructure and earn revenues via operation and maintenance of the project for 35 years.
AMRC has already received nod from the state government for construction of Visakhapatnam Metro Rail (VMR) project under PPP model. In the first phase the metro rail will be built on the stretch of from Gajuwaka to Kommadi (Via NAD Junction, Gurudwara, Maddilapalem and Hanumanthawka along NH-16).
In the second phase the metro rail will cover 5.25 km starting from Gurudwara Junction to Old Post Office (Via Daba Gardens, Suryabagh, Police Barracks and Poorna Market). In the third phase metro line will run from Thatichetlapalem to China Waltair (Via East Point Guest House, Railway Station, RTC Complex, Sampath Vinayaka Temple, Siripuram and AU Outage) covering 6.91 km.
As per initial estimation the VMR project was to be completed by April but the officials are taking due care, ensuring the stakeholders do not have to inure losses during the initial period.
AMRC officials have shared that a project is successful when the losses are minimised at the initial stage itself. There are five players who have shown interest in the project and have furnished bids. The players will be selected via Request for Quotation (RFQ) based on their bids completed against the application.
Vizag Metro is being made via PPP model. IL&FS Rail Limited, Adani Enterprises Limited, Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited, Essel Infra Projects Limited and TRIL Urban Transport Private Limited (TATA REALITY) have submitted RFQ, shared AMRC official.