Andhra Pradesh is again looked down by the central government after back tracking on several promises already. The proposed Vijayawada Metro Rail is back to square one. The tenders called by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), were suspended on Tuesday without specifying any reason. This is the second time that the tenders have been called off since inception.The metro project is implemented by a special purpose vehicle named as, Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC).
The project which is estimated to cost around 6769 crore rupees, was awarded to E.Sreedharan led Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). DMRC’s successful execution of the Delhi Metro Rail project was the primary criteria to award the Vijayawada Metro Rail project to them. Leave alone successful execution, the project is hitting road blocks in the initial phases itself.
While an extension to Amaravati is proposed in subsequent phase, 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 Nidamanuru via Vijayawada Railway Station. The DMRC called off tenders for the second line Eluru corridor. Furthermore, the officials supposedly held that the bid for Bandar corridor will also be withdrawn.
DMRC was asked to complete phase-1 of the project by December 2018 which consists of two corridors covering 26.03 km which is obviously going to miss the target. As a part of making Vijayawada Smart City, Chandrababu considered this project as a prestigious one and is making futile attempts to get it running.
The State Government and Central Governments will invest in 20% while 60% of the funds will be pooled from abroad. German bank KfW agreed to provide a loan of ₹2,500 crore (US$390 million) to the AMRC in February 2017.
As part of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, thirteenth schedule the Government of India shall examine the feasibility of Metro Rail facility in Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali Metropolitan Urban Development Authority within period of one year from the appointed day and take an expeditious decision thereon. The Center has backtracked on Andhra Pradesh Special Category Status, Kadapa steel plant and uncertainity looms over Vishakapatnam Railway Zone.
