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The Union government is expected to give its approval soon for the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Metro Rail project. Sources say an in-principle approval may be issued in the next few days. After this, the Centre will collect feedback from about 12 different ministries
and then place the project before the Public Investment Board for detailed review and final clearance.
Visakhapatnam Metro Corridors
The metro project is planned across three corridors with a total length of 46.23 km and an estimated cost of about ₹11,500 crore. Even before the DPR was formally approved, the tender process was started a few months ago. Once the DPR gets final approval, the successful bidder is likely to be announced within a few weeks. The project will be implemented as a joint venture, with the Union government contributing 20% of the cost and the Andhra Pradesh government providing an equal share. The remaining funds are expected to be raised from international financial agencies at lower interest rates.
Metro Stations to be Included
The proposed metro network will have 42 stations along the three corridors. Most stations will be built on government-owned land, though some private land may be needed for station facilities. The three corridors are from Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) Junction to Kommadi (34.4 km), Gurudwara to Old Post Office Junction (5.08 km), and Thatichetlapalem to Chinna Waltair (6.75 km).
VSP Junction-Kommadi Corridor
The VSP Junction-Kommadi corridor will run along the national highway by following a double-decker model, reducing the need for private land. However, the Thatichetlapalem-Chinna Waltair corridor, which passes through the city and includes seven stations, may require more private land due to limited government land in that area.
Land Acquisition for the Project
In total, about 99 acres of land will be acquired for the project. Around nine acres are private land, while the rest belong to central and state government bodies. The cost of land acquisition alone is estimated at ₹882 crore. Based on 2024 prices, the revised cost for the current phase is ₹11,498 crore. A Phase II corridor from Kommadi to Bhogapuram will be taken up after the Bhogapuram airport becomes operational.
