Visakhapatnam ideal city for MRTS: Expert

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, Mar 10, 2013: With more than six lakh two-wheelers and four-wheelers plying on the city roads, causing congestion, pollution, fuel wastage and accidents, for Vizag’s two million population, the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) is the ideal public transport system, say experts.

They are of the opinion that Vizag has all the ideal conditions for an excellent MRTS to be brought in. It has wide roads where road possession for construction is not difficult. Implementation will also not involve demolition of large scale private properties.

“Most of the land required is under government control and hence can be easily acquired. The citizens are enlightened and would eagerly welcome the introduction of people-friendly MRTS, though they may initially face some difficulties during the implementation phase. Added to this Vizag has an unassailable advantage in its excellent railway network within the urban area,” said Bhaskar M. of Vizag Railway Issues Forum, who was studying MRTS applicability in Vizag.

Way back in 2005, GVMC proposed a mass rapid transit system at Vizag and called for global expressions of interest for selection of consultants. The proposal was later shelved as it had not met with a good response.

In December 2005, global expressions of interest from consultants for preparation of comprehensive traffic and transportation studies with special emphasis on techno-economic feasibility for introduction of mass rapid transit system in Greater Visakhapatnam city, was invited.

The scope of work included intensive traffic study, estimation of future traffic growth, identification of major corridors, preparation of long term and short-term plans, identification of a suitable MRTS and cost estimation of the project.

Union Minister for Urban Development, Kamalnath, earlier said that since the Metro rail is a central subject, it has been decided that all such projects in the country, whether within one municipal area or beyond, shall be taken up under the Central Metro Acts.

As a result there are Metros in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore. Metro works are in progress several cities including Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and Kochi.
Vizag, Vizianagaram and Anakapalli could be be merged together to have MRTS. As the Metro is still in the nascent stage, by the time it becomes operational, the gap between these two places becomes less with MRTS, he added.