Vizag Metro gets Centre’s in-principle nod

The long-awaited Visakhapatnam Metro Rail project has received in-principle clearance from the Union government, paving the way for the ambitious Rs 11,400-crore project to move closer to implementation.

The project, originally envisaged under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, is expected to significantly improve urban mobility and provide faster connectivity to the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at Bhogapuram, around 50 km from the city centre.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana and senior government officials confirmed the Centre’s clearance. A senior official said that sustained efforts by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his visits to New Delhi had helped advance the project.

The revised Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by RITES, was submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for consideration. Tenders have already been invited for Phase-I, estimated at Rs 6,250 crore.

The proposed metro network will cover 79.91 km through four corridors: the 34.23-km Kurmannapalem (Vizag Steel Plant Junction)-Kommadi corridor, the 30.48-km Kommadi-Bhogapuram Airport corridor, the 6.91-km Thatichetlapalem-Chinna Waltair (RK Beach) corridor and the 5.28-km Gurudwara Junction-Old Post Office corridor.

APMRCL has prioritised a 20-km stretch under Phase-I to establish primary connectivity at the earliest.

The project’s major highlight is its proposed double-decker design. Selected elevated stretches will have a two-tier structure supported by common pillars, with the metro on the lower deck and a National Highway on the upper deck.

The Centre had sought clarifications on the double-decker concept, which state officials subsequently addressed through technical explanations. The project is expected to ease congestion, improve airport connectivity and support Visakhapatnam’s growing role as an industrial, technology and data-centre hub.