Traffic may go haywire in city

- AMRC to begin metro corridors construction work
- High Power Committee recommended to develop alternative roads for National Highway 5 and 9
- Tenders for road works to be finalised by March first week
- Alternative roads to be developed under the control of VMC, APCRDA, R&B and irrigation departments
- Metro works to be completed in three- and- half years

Vijayawada: Traffic will go haywire in Vijayawada city from April or May as the Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation (AMRC) will begin the metro rail construction works despite impediment in land acquisition for metro rail corridors and stations in the city and metro rail depot at Nidamanuru.

Furthermore, there is no much clarity on releasing funds from the Union government. The AMRC has identified alternative roads for national highway 5 and national highway 9 passing through the city to avoid traffic congestion during three and half years of construction period and tenders for the civil works will be opened on February 7 and will be finalised by March first week.

The State government directed the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA), road and buildings (R&B), Irrigation department and Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to take up the responsibility of new roads within their jurisdiction area. The AMRC will build metro corridors through Eluru road (NH 5) and Bandar road (NH 9) in the city. Eluru road corridor will end at Nidamanuru village on NH 5 and Bandar road corridor will end at Penamaluru on NH 9. Thousands of vehicles, entering the city through the both NH 5 and NH 9 reach Benz Circle junction where the traffic congestion will be worsened during the metro works. A flyover will be constructed at Benz Circle.

Diversion of roads
High Power Committee recommended alternative roads to NH 5 and NH 9 which would be formed under control of VMC, APCRDA, R&B and irrigation departments. The VMC will form five alternative roads to avoid traffic jams. A three km road from NTR statue from Pantakalva to Ramavarpadu ring road to divert traffic without reaching Benz circle, two km road from skew bridge to Yanamalkuduru donka road as an alternative to NH 9 and one kilometre road from Mahanadu road from Ballemvari street as an alternative to NH 5. It will also built three bridges crossing Bunder canal at Yanamalakuduru , Gulzar bridge and YVR hospital. Limited height subways at Vambay Colony and canal crossing bridges at Police Control Room and Thummalapalli Kalakshetram will be constructed.

A top AMRC official made it clear that 10 acres land would be acquired in Vijayawada city for building 25 metro stations and 60 acres would be acquired in Nidamanuru for building Metro Rail Depot.

He also said it is not possible to change Eluru road corridor to BRTS road in the city despite strong objections from businessmen as it will not economically viable.

AMRC Managing Director said Germany-based KFW Group and AFO Group of France will give Rs 3,600 crore as loan to the metro rail project. Besides, the State government has given permission to the AMRC to take loan of Rs 1,800 crore from financial institutions or banks which is under consideration. Interestingly, the AMRC has no clarity on funds that would be released by the Union government.

K Varaprasada Rao