BL reported that work on the bus rapid transport system, taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission at a cost of INR 426. 35 crore, has begun in some stretches and the Chief Minister recently laid the foundation stone for the project.

According to the Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation, the project is scheduled to be completed by October 2010.

It is estimated that currently public transport accounts for 30% of all modes and the bus rapid transport system is intended to take it to 50% by 2011, taking in view the increasing traffic needs of the city.
Two corridors

The BRTS project comprises two corridors in the city Pendurthi transit corridor and Simhachalam transit corridor. The first corridor covers 20 kilometer from Pendurthi via Gopalapatnam, NAD, Kancharapalem and the railway station. The Simhachalam corridor stretches from Pendurthi to RTC complex via Vepagunta, Simhapuri Colonly road, Gosala, Adivivaram, Hanumanthawaka Junction and Maddilapalem.

The project is being implemented by a special purpose vehicle with equity participation by the GVMC, the AP Road Transport Corporation and the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority.

However, a JV of Sadbhav Engineering and GKC Projects has been chosen to execute the INR 165 crore work on the Pendurthi corridor and the work has started on stretches where there are no land acquisition problems. GVR Infra Projects has been chosen for the INR 161 crore work on the Simhachalam corridor.

(Sourced from Business Line)