Visakhapatnam: The Union Government is expected to accord approval to the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the proposed Visakhapatnam Metro Rail Project in the coming days, according to official sources. An in-principle approval is likely to be issued shortly, following which the proposal will be circulated among nearly 12 central ministries before being placed before the Public Investment Board (PIB) for appraisal and final clearance.
The metro project will be developed across three corridors spanning 46.23 km, at an estimated cost of approximately ₹11,500 crore (₹11,498 crore at 2024 price levels).
Project Structure and Funding Model
The project is structured as a joint venture, with 20% equity funding from the Union Government and an equal 20% contribution from the Andhra Pradesh Government. The remaining funds are proposed to be mobilised through international financial agencies, with efforts underway to secure loans at competitive interest rates.
Notably, the tendering process was initiated several months ago, even before formal DPR approval. Following clearance, the successful bidder is expected to be announced within weeks.
Network and Corridors
The proposed 46.23-km network will include 42 stations, most of which will be developed on government land. Limited private land acquisition may be required for station-related infrastructure.
The three approved corridors are:
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Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) Junction to Kommadi – 34.4 km
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Gurudwara to Old Post Office Junction – 5.08 km
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Thatichetlapalem to Chinna Waltair – 6.75 km
The VSP–Kommadi corridor will run largely along the national highway in a double-decker configuration, minimising private land acquisition. In contrast, the Thatichetlapalem–Chinna Waltair corridor, which includes seven stations and traverses dense urban areas, may require additional private land due to limited government land availability.
Land Acquisition and Cost
Approximately 99 acres of land are being acquired for the project. Of this:
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Nine acres are privately owned
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The remaining 91 acres belong to various central and state government institutions
The government land includes:
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47 acres belonging to the State Government
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36 acres under the Visakhapatnam Port Authority
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Four acres under Indian Railways
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Three acres under the Central Government
The estimated cost of land acquisition alone is around ₹882 crore.
A district-level committee has been constituted to identify and finalise specific land parcels required for construction.
Future Expansion
Phase II of the project will include a fourth corridor from Kommadi to Bhogapuram, which is proposed to be taken up after the Bhogapuram International Airport becomes operational, further strengthening regional connectivity.
