Vizag, Vijayawada set to get bus rapid transit system

Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, two of the fast growing cities in Andhra Pradesh, will soon get bus rapid transit system (BRTS). A proposal to this effect was cleared by the state Cabinet on Wednesday.

Both the cities have population in excess of 1 million. BRTS is better suited for these cities than the mass rail transit system as both are rocky areas.

Information and public relations minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy said a special purpose vehicle (SPV) would be formed at both the places to oversee the implementation of the project. It will assist in planning, designing, financing, developing, constructing, maintaining, marketing, operating and enabling the BRTS.

In Vijayawada, the road circuit from the Police Control Room to the State Guest House, running 15.5 km, is estimated to cost Rs 152.6 crore. In Visakhapatnam, the two corridors - Pendurthi Transit Corridor (22.6 km) and Simhachalam Transit Corridor (20.5 km) is estimated to cost Rs 190. 97 crore and Rs 261.96 crore respectively.

Special offices will come up at both the cities. Work on these offices has already begun and is being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission with the Centre bearing 50 per cent of the project cost and the state government 20 per cent. The respective local urban bodies will share the remaining 30 per cent budget.

According to the BRTS concept, separate lanes on either side of the central median on the roads would be earmarked for exclusive operation of buses.

Among others, the cabinet also gave its nod for bringing Godavari waters to Hyderabad from Pranahita reservoir. This will serve the water needs of the Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration. The first phase of the project will cost Rs 3,375 crore and will bring in 10 TMC (thousand million cubic metre) water. The work will start in November and will be completed in about 30 months.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal for extension of the utilisation period of the government guarantee for further two years for obtaining loans from the Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Finance Corporation for documentation of new schemes.