The central government has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to revamp the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) submitted along with the Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project proposal.
The CMPP is an important document used by the central government for appraising and clearing transport projects such as metro rails, BRTs, and feeder networks.
The 76.9-km Visakhapatnam Light Metro Rail Project has been proposed by the state government in a public-private partnership model. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 14,300 crore.
The project has expanded significantly from its initial vision, spanning four corridors. The metro network is set to connect important parts of the city and enhance accessibility to Bhogapuram.
In addition, about 60 km long tram corridors are planned in other locations such as Anakapalli, Pendurthi, and Beach Road.
The CMP was created in 2018, so the state government has been asked to provide its latest version. To support the economic growth of Visakhapatnam, the previous CMP created a safe, sustainable, and low-carbon urban transport plan.
2018: Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) was assigned the task of creating the CMP as a consultant. Between 2016 and 2017, household surveys, traffic surveys, and roadside interviews were conducted for data collection for the CMP study.
The plan proposed the purchase of over 2,000 buses (700 in the immediate term) and two more BRTS corridors, linking to the existing 42-km BRTS network in Visakhapatnam. It also included redesigning roads with better signage and markings.
The proposals included dedicated pedestrian walkways and footpaths along the 360-km long road. The report also recommended a public bike-sharing system and separate cycle tracks along a 286-km long road to enrich the public transport system. The previous plan had also formulated a transit-oriented development plan.
APMRCL (Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd) managing director UJM Rao said the general validity of a CMP is five years.
“The CMP for Vizag was prepared about six years ago,” Rao told the Economic Times. “When we were asked to update the CMP, we reconsidered and made some changes. We will send the revised SCMP to the central government. There should be no further changes.”
The Vizag Metro aims to meet the growing needs of the port city’s residents and contribute to its continued development, with a focus on expanded coverage and multi-modal integration.