Chandrababu Naidu May Clear Vijayawada Metro Rail DPR by April 20.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has finalised the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Vijayawada Metro Rail, much ahead of the April 30 deadline, and it is likely to be submitted to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu anytime after April 10.

The DPR is expected to be cleared by April 20 if Naidu decides to make any changes to it. 'We are ready with the DPR. As the state government is our client, we shall submit it to the chief minister,' a DMRC official said.

When the DPR is cleared and tenders are called, DMRC, which works under the Union urban development ministry, would also bid for the project along with others. Or the government could finalise DMRC as a single tender company since it is owned by the Union government. 'The chief minister has faith in the capability of the DMRC in executing the project. That is why former MD of DMRC E Sreedharan has been appointed principal advisor to the government on metro rail projects in September last year,' the DMRC offical said.

The DMRC has estimated that the project would cost Rs. 5,500 crore and take four years for its execution. This is at the rate of Rs. 220 crore per km and if the DMRC is given the contract, it would execute the work on a turnkey basis. 'It would cost Rs. 220 crore per km because we not only lay the tracks but do everything including traction, the bridges and 132kv power supply, trunk circuiting equipment for ensuring safety, telecommunication equipment, coaches and so on,' the official said.

The DPR envisages two corridors from the Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS), one up to Penamaluru over MG Road and the other till Nidamanuru over Eluru Road.


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