Amravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC), which is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) executing Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam metro rail projects, has sought the inclusion of the projects in the special package entitling it to be a fit case for Central funding ensuring faster completion of the mega project. If the Centre agrees to fund the projects, about Rs. 4,000-10,000-cr for Vijayawada Metro and Rs. 6,000-cr for Visakhapatnam Metro- burden will be off the state exchequer. It may be recalled that AMRC, after ruling out Japanese external agency JICA, is in talks with agencies from France, Germany, Asia and others. However, even as the AMRC and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) are preparing the ground to invite tenders for the second phase of Vijayawada Metro between Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) and Nidamanuru, the land acquisition is likely to take a longer time than expected. Each metro station will require a minimum of 2,000 sq. yards which includes parking and other facilities and there are 25 such stations - 13 in PNBS - Nidamanuru line and 12 in PNBS - Penamaluru line. The preparation of the draft of land acquisition notification is in final stages and it will be released shortly, said official sources.
