Vizag, Vijayawada metro rail bids receiving last date extended

The State Government has extended the deadline for receipt of bids for metro rail projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada with the hope of attracting more bidders after clarifying their doubts on viability..

While the last date for Visakhapatnam Metro Rail has been extended from September 12 to October 7, the submission of bids for Vijayawada Metro Rail has been rescheduled from September 17 to October 14.

The project cost (tendered) of Visakhapatnam project is estimated at 6,250 crore. Vijayawada project cost has been put at Rs 4,150 crore. The first phase of Visakhapatnam Metro will have three corridors at an estimated total cost Rs 11,498 crore. The first phase of Vijayawada metro will have two corridors envisaged at a cost of Rs 10,118 crore.

Andhra Pradesh Government has already represented to the Government of India for sanction of Viability Gap Funding. The Centre is yet to approve the twin metro projects submitted to it.

Sources said engineering major Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited is contemplating to foray into the metro race by collaborating with a partner with experience in taking up metro rail projects. The need to develop the metro rail project in Visakhapatnam is being sought by many at the earliest as the Bhogapuram International Airport work is being completed by the GMR Group through the EPC contractor L&T on a fast-track basis. Completion of the metro rail will provide easy access to the denizens to reach the new airport.