The State government on Friday issued a notification declaring the areas falling under the three corridors of the proposed Metro rail under the Metropolitan Area of Visakhapatnam.
The three corridors are Gajuwaka to Kommadi Junction via NAD Junction, Gurudwara, Maddilapalem and Hanumantavaka along National Highway-16 running to 30.381 km.
The second corridor is of 5.255 km from Gurudwara to Old Post Office covering Daba Gardens, Suryabaugh, Police Barracks and Purna Market.
The third corridor begins at Thatichetpalem and runs up to China Waltair via the Railway Station, RTC Complex, Sampath Vinayaka temple, Siripuram and AU Out-gate. The issue of the notification follows the GVMC Commissioner conveying the corporation’s willingness through a resolution to be brought under the Metropolitan Area.
Issuing the notification is also mandatory under the provisions of the Metro Railways Act, 1978 and Metro Rail (Operation and Maintenance) Act, sources said.
The total length of 42.55 km runs through several arterial roads of the city and bringing Gajuwaka, from and to which a large number of people commute, into the proposed Metro network. Earlier, it was proposed only up to NAD and the extension was made after representation from MLAs.
With the city’s outskirts ever-expanding and commutes taking a long time, a mass transit system will result in quick transportation.
A revised DPR sent by the Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation to take up the Metro Rail Project under public-private-partnership is awaiting the approval of the Union Finance Ministry.
While the State government foots 20 % of the cost towards relief, rehabilitation and land acquisition, the Central government is expected to grant 20 % of the cost and the private party executing the unit 60 %.
However, the Railway Minister has announced that New Metro Rail Policy and Metro Rail Act would be brought in.
