Greater Vizag Transport Authority

RealityRider · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:01 am Post subject: Work on two BRTS corridors begins

Work on two BRTS corridors begins

The GVMC has taken it up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
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The encroachments on Pendurthy corridor stretch have been removed for relaying Tatipudi pipeline

The two companies selected for executing work have been given a mobilisation advance

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VISAKHAPATNAM: Work has begun on two corridors of the prestigious Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) to provide safe and speedy transportation to the citizens. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has taken up BRTS under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The two corridors connect Pendurthy to Dwarakanagar on two different routes.

On the 22.6 km Pendurthy corridor that connects to Dwarakanagar via NAD Kotha Road work has begun at Chinnamushidivada.

While the first kilometre of the corridor has some structures, the 5 km stretch from 1 km to 6 km is available for work, according to officials.

The encroachments on the stretch have been removed for relaying the Tatipudi pipeline, also taken up under the JNNURM. The work taken up is construction of drains and ducts in RCC box type.

A footpath will come up on the drains and ducts, according to Superintendent Engineer (Projects) Moses Kumar.

The construction is similar to the one taken up on the Jail Road but smaller in dimension.

While work goes on one side of the road, traffic is restricted to the other half.

On the Simhachalam corridor that begins at Vepagunta and reaches Hanumanthavaka via Simhachalam, Adavivaram and Mudasarlova, work started at Pineapple Colony, Mr. Moses Kumar said.

The median on the 200-ft road laid earlier is being removed to construct the corridor.

The existing service road will be used for traffic while the work is going on.

After finalisation of designs, the two companies selected for executing work on the two corridors have been given a mobilisation advance of Rs.34 crores as per the norms of the engineering, procurement and construction agreement.

In the ongoing work on the flyover from Vemana Mandiram to the DRM’s office, 18 of the 128 pile foundations have been completed.

All the foundations are expected to be completed by the end of the month.

The flyover forms part of the Pendurthy corridor and is being constructed at an additional cost of Rs. 62 crores.

source : http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/30/stories/2009013058400300.htm

Hindu - 30/01/09 - vizag news

RealityRider

Cancellation of BRTS project demanded

Staff Reporter

BRTS Victims Association formed

VISAKHAPATNAM: People living beside the Main Road between Kancharapalem and Vepagunta are up in arms against the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) project that would literally throw them onto the road. The people, who would be displaced by the project, formed into ‘BRTS Victims Association’ to wage a battle against the authorities concerned with the support of Uttarandhra Rakshana Vedika (URV).

Addressing a media conference here on Monday, BRTS Victims Association convener P. Rama Rao said the Kancharapalem Main Road was originally a narrow road that was laid during the British time. It was widened to 40’ during the 1960’s and subsequently to 60’. It was again widened to 80’ about eight years ago.

The frequent widening of the road has led to many residents losing a greater part of their houses and sites resulting in most of them having houses in plots ranging between 50 square yards and 150 square yards. They were not paid any compensation in the past. “About a year ago when the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) authorities made the markings for demolition of our houses to facilitate road extension for the BRTS project, we approached Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao and he had assured that our interests would be safeguarded,” recalled Mr. Rama Rao.

The commencement of road widening work for BRTS at Vepagunta has set the alarm bells ringing among the families that would be affected by the project. “The only option available to us would be start living on the road along with our families, if the project is executed,” he said.

He suggested introduction of local trains between Visakhapatnam and Pendurthy or developing the BRTS corridor adjacent to the National Highway (NH-5) as it wouldn’t require much demolition of houses.

A failure

URV president S.S. Shiva Shankar said BRTS project had turned out to be a failure in Delhi. The project was cancelled after a dedicated corridor was developed on a 5-km stretch.

Though the officials say that an additional 20’ would be required for the Kancharapalem - Vepagunta corridor, another 40’ would be required for construction of BRTS bays and other facilities. An alternative route would have to be made for the existing traffic.

The affected persons were all having small houses, be it commercial or residential, and now they would lose their livelihood. BRTS had resulted in traffic chaos in some other cities, which was confirmed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on BRTS, Mr. Shiva Shankar said and demanded cancellation of the project.

source : http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/03/stories/2009020358840300.htm

Hindu - 03/02/09 - vizag news

RealityRider · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:47 am Post subject: BRTS tunnel project gets delayed

BRTS tunnel project gets delayed

G.V. Prasada Sarma

Cost likely to go up by 40 per cent

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Basic design of the tunnel first finalised in 2006

The project already given environmental clearance

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VISAKHAPATNAM: The proposal to form a tunnel and road as a part of the Simhachalam corridor of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) may take some time for taking a final shape. The project was mooted in 2005 and the cost is likely to go up by about 40 per cent.

The tunnel has been proposed to ease congestion, cut distance and provide access from the core area of the city to Mudarsarlova. By providing access to Mudarsarlova, it helps reduce distance for those going to the suburbs and to Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and other parts by the highway. The heavy traffic along Venkojipalem, Maddilapalem etc can be avoided once it materializes.

The 1.2-km tunnel will be formed at Narasimhanagar. The basic design for the tunnel was first finalised in 2006 by a consultancy. Before it could be taken up, changes in the design have been suggested. Besides, the changes in the government’s policy have introduced the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) system. In the new system the design has to be submitted by the agency taking up the work. The basic design earlier submitted by the consultancy will be the internal benchmark and the data on earth’s strata etc will be helpful in finalising the EPC contract now, sources say. The project has already been given environmental clearance. The EPC proposals are now being finalised by a three-member committee on Technical Parameters and Internal Benchmarking of which the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Health Department is Chairman. The Chief Engineer of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and Director of Projects of Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board are its other members. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 99 crores with the earlier design. Now with the standard scheduled rates revised every year the cost is expected to go up to Rs.140 crores. Meanwhile, the GVMC has written to Simhachalam Devasthanam informing the EO of the proposals under the project since the land falls under the devasthanam.

source : http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/05/stories/2009020559240300.htm

Hindu - 05/02/09 - vizag news

RealityRider

YSR to lay stone for BRTS works today

Staff Reporter

It is being taken up as high-capacity public transport system in city

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Two corridors are planned under JNNURM

Work to be completed in two years

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An artist’s impression of the BRTS corridor taken up in the city.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has been taken up as a high- capacity public transport system in Visakhapatnam keeping in view the projected multi-fold increase in traffic and constraints of road capacity. The BRTS intends to increase use of public transport from the present share of about 30 per cent to 50 per cent by 2011.

Cost-effective

The BRTS has been preferred as cost effective because of its low infrastructure costs and the short duration for completion compared to rail-based mass transit system.

Work has been taken up on two corridors in the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. In the urban mission, 50 per cent of the cost is borne by the Union Government and the remaining by the State Government and the civic body (Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation). A special purpose vehicle comprising the GVMC, the APSRTC and the VUDA has been formed for the implementation of the project.

Work has begun on the two corridors recently after due processes of tendering and design approval. A dedicated corridor will be provided for buses with bus stations and other infrastructure. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy will formally lay the foundation stone for the work during his visit to the city on Saturday.

The corridors

The 20-km Pendurthi Transit Corridor that begins at Pendurthi and reaches RTC Complex via Gopalapatnam, NAD Kotharoad, Kancharapalem and the railway station is taken up at a cost of Rs.159.38 crores. The flyover from Asilmetta to the DRM Office is a part of it and costs an additional Rs.63 crores.

The Simhachalam Transit Corridor (STC) begins at Pendurthi and reaches Dwarakanagar via Simhachalam, Mudasarlova, Hanumanthavaka and is taken up at a cost of Rs.179.45 crores. The works so far launched under BRTS cost a total of Rs.401.83 crores. A tunnel in the Simhachalam hill forms part of STC but designs and estimates are yet to be finalised. The work is scheduled for completion in two years and to be ready for phased completion by October 2010.

The corridors involve land acquisition from about 2,200 structures besides from the APEPDCL, the Navy and the Railways. The GVMC has initiated an exercise to consider appeals for compensation for those affected.

source : http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/21/stories/2009022159570300.htm

Hindu - 21/02/09 - vizag news