AP floating tenders for Vizag metro rail corridor

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to float tenders for the Vizag metro rail project, which will have three corridors including Kommadi junction to Gajuwaka (30.8 km), Old Post Office junction to Gurudwara junction (5.25 km); and the Thatichetlapalem to China Waltair (6.91 km). The state government has also decided to extend the project to the proposed Bhogapuram international airport on the north-east side of the city. On the south-east side, the project will be extended up to the Vizag Steel Plant instead of limiting it to Gajuwaka. This has forced the government to initiate fresh bidding by retracting the earlier tenders. But the project cost would almost double as the length of the project would now be above 80 km from the earlier 42.5-km. Based on the anticipation of future stress points and projection of traffic growth trajectory, a metro rail project is the need of the hour, said official sources, adding that the government is looking for an external funding agency towards its 52% share of the project, and the successful bidder will invest the remaining portion of funds.