Vizag metro rail project to launch soon : minister Narayana

By The Capital

On 13 Nov 2024 18:59:10

Vizag metro rail project to launch soon : minister Narayana

Municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana announced in the Assembly

Municipal administration and urban development minister P Narayana announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that the Visakhapatnam metro rail project will soon be launched, promising a transformative boost to the city’s public transport infrastructure. Addressing the Assembly during the question-and-answer session, he responded to members' inquiries on the long-stalled project.,.

Visakha West MLA Ganababu criticized the previous administration for halting the project in 2018, despite the Centre funding similar metro projects in other cities, including Kolkata. BJP Legislative Party Leader Vishnukumar Raju suggested extending the first phase by six kilometers to maximize its benefits. In response, Minister Narayana assured that a feasibility report would be prepared as per the Apportionment Act. He recounted the project’s history, noting that while the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted in 2015, plans were altered under the new metro policy in 2016.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) later recommended a light metro for both Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Narayana criticized the YCP government’s decision to cancel previous tenders in 2019, which he claimed demonstrated a lack of commitment to the project. However, the current government has now prepared a Comprehensive Transport Plan (CMP) for the metro, which has been submitted to the central government for approval. Minister Narayana added that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking support for the project, which is planned across four corridors in two phases, covering a total of 76.90 kilometers in Visakhapatnam.