In the wake of new metro rail policy coming into effect, Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) has been asked to review its medium metro proposal connecting Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) with Nidamanuru and Penamaluru in two corridors.
This is against the backdrop of AMRC preferring a light metro and issuing a notice inviting Expression of Interest for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) a few days ago with the underlying objective to introduce a light metro/light rail system in the city.
The DPR is a part of the Indo-German Financial Cooperation Programme for ‘climate-friendly urban mobility, under which KfW had come forward to fund a part of the project.
AMRC Managing Director N.P. Ramakrishna Reddy told The Hindu that the new metro rail policy laid down more stringent norms than its previous version and if the central government’s assistance is to be availed they have to be met without fail.
The conditions include fostering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which was made mandatory. The PPP clause was not there earlier.
German development bank KfW has got the feasibility of light metro rail done recently and even recommended the same. The AMRC has to now get the project analysed with a 30-year horizon and cover alternative models.
Pending with PIB
The Amaravati (Vijayawada) metro proposal has been pending with the Public Investment Board (PIB) since certain objections have been raised by the NITI Aayog on the ridership and internal rate of return criteria. The Andhra Pradesh government has then decided to go for a light metro after a detailed study.
The new metro rail policy came at this juncture and the AMRC has to rehash its proposal in compliance with the tighter norms or take the project on its own devoid of the central assistance.
The AMRC is hoping against hope that the ‘Metro Man’ E. Sreedharan will get the central clearance for a medium metro but it all depends on the new DPR sought to be prepared in the fresh instance.
