Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu met Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Delhi and discussed various projects related to the state. Requesting speedy clearance for the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada Metro Rail projects, he also urged that the Center should provide 100 percent grants for these projects, in view of strain on the financial resources of the state.
He said that these projects are crucial to reduce traffic congestion in Andhra Pradesh, boost economic growth, and improve transport facilities in cities. He submitted a note to the Union Minister explaining the importance of these projects in improving infrastructure and solving the challenges of urbanization.
Chandrababu recalled that the Hyderabad Metro Rail was approved before the bifurcation of the state, but he deplored that the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada projects are pending for a long. Traffic congestion is increasing day by day in Visakhapatnam, a key industrial hub.
Since the Bhogapuram International Airport is to be completed by June next year, he said that it is very important to connect the Metro corridor with national highways by then. He said that the aim is to connect major urban centers in the first phase. Later, he said that an expansion plan has been prepared for the airport.
The Chief Minister said that it has been decided to strengthen regional connectivity by establishing the Vijayawada Metro system as a gateway to the capital Amaravati. This is very necessary to contribute to economic growth in the vicinity of Vijayawada.
The Chief Minister asked that this project be considered a priority to meet the growing transport needs of the city. As Andhra Pradesh is facing financial difficulties after the bifurcation of the state, he said it is not in a position to build metro projects on its own.
So, Chandrababu asked for 100 percent central assistance for these two metro rail projects, which are crucial for the development of the state. He appealed to the Centre to support Phase-1 permissions and land acquisition to ground the project in a timely manner. CM Chandrababu explained to Union Minister Khattar that these projects will not only reduce air pollution, but also solve the traffic problem and contribute to long-term economic growth.
