With the Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APUFIDC) sanctioning funds for taking up a detailed study on the metro rail project for the city, the GVMC now has the required Rs.1.6 crore for getting the detailed project report ready.
Half the amount, Rs.80 lakh, has been sanctioned by the Central government.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and AAREE are in the run for preparation of the detailed project reports (DPRs). The State government will decide the agency.
It is estimated that a km of metro rail project costs Rs.220 crore.
“In the city, the DPRs will be prepared for a 20-km stretch mostly on the road on which buses are plying now,” Municipal Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana said.
Mr. Satyanarayana said the issue of deciding the agency would be finalised by the State government by the end of the month.
Now, even smaller cities such as Bhopal and Kochi, with a population of around 17 lakh, have been sanctioned metro rail. The population of the GVMC, after merger of Bheemunipatnam and Anakapalle, is estimated to be 19 lakh.
Getting metro rail sanctioned is cited as one of the major reasons for merger in spite of their being away from the city, posing problems in administering them.
The entire metro rail project will be funded by the Central government.
