Vijayawada Metro Explained

Vijayawada Metro
Owner:APMRC - Govt of A.P - PPP
Locale:Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
Transit Type:light rail transit
Operator:Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (APMRC)
Chief Executive:NP Ramakrishna Reddy
Headquarters:Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation,Kaushalya Apartment,1 st Floor, H.No. 40-3- 8,Gummadi Gopal Rao Street,Labbipet, Vijayawada- 520010
El:750 V DC Third Rail
Map State:show

Vijayawada Metro is proposed light rail transit system in the Indian city of Vijayawada. The system is proposed to reduce traffic congestion in the city and consists three corridors which will be constructed in 3 Phases. Phase-I will be covering 24.5km (15.2miles), phase-ll will cover 12.5km (07.8miles) and phase-lll will cover 28km (17miles).[1] The project is estimated to cost approximately ₹15,000 crore or 1.7 billion USD.[2] It was proposed in the form of a light metro which would consist of 3 coaches.

History

The metro rail project is proposed by former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu to reduce traffic congestion in the city. The project was awarded to E. Sreedharan led Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), keeping in view its successful execution of the Delhi Metro Rail project.[3] Survey work for the project began in 2014. RVR Associates was appointed to conduct household and traffic surveys. Following the completion of these two surveys, topographical, environmental and soil surveys were also conducted.[4] A detailed project report on the Vijayawada Metro was submitted by the Principal Advisor of DMRC, E. Sreedharan to the Chief Minister. There is no scope for metro in Vijayawada and traffic issues has to be more concentrated. N Chandrababu Naidu on April 27, 2015.[5]

The AMRC floated tenders for the construction of two lines for the project on 28 November 2016.[6] Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Afcons Infrastructure Limited (AIL), and Simplex Infrastructures Limited (SIL) submitted bids for the project.[7]

DMRC had been asked to complete phase-1 of the project by December 2018.[8]

The project has been shelved due the Government of Andhra Pradesh's failure to submit its revised proposals in line with Metro Rail Policy 2017. [9] According to the policy, the fund collection and the DPRs (detailed project reports) will have to be prepared by the respective state government.

Network

The total length of alignment in 3 directions would be 66 km, as per the details mentioned below:

PhaseLineLengthStations
1APNBSGannavaram24.5 km (15.2 mi)22
1BPNBS – Penamaluru12.50 km (7.8 mi)11
2PNBS – Amaravati28 km (17 mi)18
Totalc. 66.2 km (c. 41.1 mi)51

 

Special purpose vehicle

The metro project is implemented by a special purpose vehicle called the Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation.[10] Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation has been renamed as Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd after the Managing Director of AMRC suggested that it might be appropriate to change the name AMRC as APMRC so as to implement the Metro Projects in other parts of the State and the ruling government obliged.[11]

Plan

As CM N Chandrababu Naidu planned a new capital for Andhra Pradesh, he planned to develop Vijayawada as a smart city and rolled out plans for the metro in the city.[12]

Network and route

The proposed interchange of two lines is Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS), a bus station located at the southern side of Vijayawada city and beside the Krishna River. The proposed first line will follow Bandar Road from Pandit Nehru Bus Station to Penamaluru via Mahatma Gandhi road and the second run from PNBS along Eluru Road to Vijayawada Airport via Vijayawada Railway Station.[13] An extension to Amaravati (state capital) is proposed in a subsequent phase.[14] The project does not serve One Town area, where commercial locations such as KR Market, Vastralatha and the temple of Kanaka Durga are located.[15]

Funding

The corridor from Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) to Nidamanur is estimated to cost, and the corridor between PNBS and Penamalur will cost .

German bank KfW agreed to provide a loan of to the AMRC in February 2017. The Andhra Pradesh Government had previously considered taking a loan from JICA, but chose not to, as JICA's loan proposal mandated that 30% of the loaned amount should used to procure rolling stock from Japan.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Amaravati Development Corporation Ltd.. 2020-07-08. amrc.ap.gov.in.
  2. Web site: Project report ready for a cheaper Amaravati Metro - Times of India. 2020-07-08. The Times of India. en.
  3. Web site: Metro rail will be confined to Vijayawada: Sreedharan. The Times of India.
  4. Web site: Vijayawada Metro rail project work on 2017 track. Deccan Chronicle.
  5. News: 27 April 2015 . Sreedharan Submits Vijayawada Metro Rail DPR to AP CM . Outlook India . Vijayawada . 26 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150726074828/http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/sreedharan-submits-vijayawada-metro-rail-dpr-to-ap-cm/893828 . 26 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Tenders for Amaravati Metro works invited, deadline for bids January 19. The New Indian Express. 4 March 2017.
  7. Web site: Staff Reporter. Three companies bid for Amaravati metro. The Hindu. 4 March 2017. en.
  8. News: Finish Phase-1 of Metro Projects in Andhra Pradesh by 2018, State Tells Sreedharan. NDTV.com. 2018-10-23.
  9. Web site: correspondent. dc. 2021-08-04. No Vizag, Vijayawada Metro Rail for now. 2022-01-05. Deccan Chronicle. en.
  10. Web site: About AMRC - Amaravati Metro. Amaravati Metro. 1 May 2017.
  11. Web site: Amaravati Metro renamed as Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd - Metro Rail News. 29 April 2020.
  12. News: Metro rail projects for Vizag, Vijayawada approved. 28 July 2015. The Hindu. 1 August 2014. Hyderabad.
  13. News: Vijayawada Metro Rail to cost Rs. 288 crore per km. 28 July 2015. 17 March 2015. Vijayawada.
  14. [New Indian Express]
  15. News: Vijayawada Metro Rail System. AMRC (Amaravathi Metro Rail Corporation). 2018-10-13. Check Pnr status,train running status,seat availability,PNR. 2018-10-23. en-US.
  16. Web site: Staff Reporter. German bank to sanction Rs. 2,500 crore for metro rail. The Hindu. 4 March 2017. en.