Metro Rail comes to Gajuwaka

The delay in submitting the Detailed Project Report (DPR), for the Vizag metro is attributed to the ongoing survey being done on Gajuwaka region. There was criticism from various quarters that state government was focusing more on Vijayawada metro as its DPR was first submitted to the chief minister, N Chandrababu Naidu in April itself whereas Vizag metro plan preparation has been still underway.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been tasked to prepare DPRs for both Vizag and Vijayawada metros. And Metro Man, E Sreedharan has been appointed as the advisor to both the metro rail projects. Now it is learnt that the DPR is expected to be completed by this month and submitted to the state government in July. State government’s metro rail projects advisor, E Sreedharan also visited Vizag in the last week of May to check the progress of the ongoing studies. During his visit, it was hinted that DPR will be read by June 15.

As the related surveys and studies have begun late and the length of Vizag metro is 10kms more than that of Vijaya-wada, the DPR preparation has been delayed. All studies regarding Vizag Metro Rail Project such as Topographic, Environ-ment Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment and Traffic studies have been completed. Only geo-technical survey has to be completed which is under process.

“We have almost completed all the studies and surveys related to Vizag metro rail. Meanwhile on the requests of the local public representatives, Mr Sreedharan, during his last visit, wanted the agencies involved in the DPR preparation also to survey Gajuwaka to include it, which is going on. Due to the last minute inclusion there is delay in DPR submission. DMRC is hopeful of submitting the DPR by this month end. Its up to the government to decide whether to connect Gajuwaka or not but we are surveying the area and including it in the DPR,” said a senior official of GVMC, who is privy of Vizag Metro Rail DPR preparation told this correspondent.