AP metro project names Sreedharan as principal adviser

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday appointed E Sreedharan, former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, as principal adviser for the Metro Rail projects it has proposed to take up in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati.

The state government has already issued a preliminary notification for taking up the first phase of Metro Rail project in a 20-km stretch in port city Visakhapatnam.

Metro Rail will also come up in Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority region that is set to become the new capital of the state.

A feasibility study will be conducted for taking up Metro Rail project in temple town Tirupati to cater to the heavy pilgrim traffic. Sreedharan met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here in the first week of September and discussed the project modalities.

The state government requested Sreedharan to be the Principal Adviser for the Metro Rail projects and he has agreed to it. The state government will pay Rs 1.5 lakh a month as honorarium to Sreedharan for his services, according to an order issued by Principal Secretary (Municipal Administration) D Sambasiva Rao.  

The state government wants to complete the first phase of Metro in Vizag and VGTM are in three and a half years. Costs of the project are still being worked out. The state hopes to draw funds from the Centre for the Metro in accordance with the promises made in the AP Reorganisation Act.