Vizag Metro Project Moves Ahead As Land Assessment Begins For Twin Depot Sites

Two Metro Rail Depots (MRDs) have been proposed at key locations in Visakhapatnam—Old Dairy Farm (ODF) near Visakhapatnam Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) and close to the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), reported The Hindu.

These depots are vital to the operational core of the metro system. Functioning as the nerve centres, they will house facilities for maintenance, inspections, repairs and washing of metro trains, in addition to providing parking and administrative infrastructure.

The depots also coordinate movements such as shunting and staffing, ensuring efficient and uninterrupted service.

Each depot requires between 35 to 40 acres of land. Altogether, Phase-1 of the 46.23 km long metro project needs around 100 acres, with the cost of land acquisition alone projected at Rs 890 crore.

A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is currently underway to determine the feasibility and public interest of the acquisition, under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013.

The SIA process, officially notified by the District Collector’s office on 30 May, will also explore alternative land options and assess the impact on local communities, including food security.

According to data from AP Metro Rail Corporation (APMRC), the project requires over nine acres of private land and 87 acres of government land, including plots owned by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (36 acres), Indian Railways (4 acres), and the Animal Husbandry Department (47 acres). Less than an acre will come from D-patta households.

“Yes, the Visakhapatnam district administration is currently working on land allocation related works. We are waiting for a call from the Visakhapatnam Collector, who may receive the final SIA report soon,” APMRC MD NP Ramakrishna Reddy was quoted as saying.

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