The Hindu : Front Page : BRTS process gains momentum

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Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
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BRTS process gains momentum

G. V. Prasada Sarma

VISAKHAPATNAM: Evaluation of tenders for the prestigious Rs. 453-crore Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) intended to provide safe and quick urban travel has been going on. The tenders for the Pendurthy Transit Corridor (PTC) that runs from Pendurthy to Dwarakanagar via NAD Junction have already been received and are under evaluation by municipal officials here.

The evaluation is expected to be completed in the next few days, according to sources. Once the evaluation is completed, it will be sent to the State-level committee for approval. A seven-member committee has been formed at the State level for sanctioning works above Rs.10 crores under “Engineering, Procurement and Construction” (EPC) contract under the Urban Development Department. Once it approves finalisation of tenders, work is expected to begin. “Once the decision comes (from Hyderabad), we will be able to launch the work,” said an official. The 22.6-km PTC corridor is estimated to cost Rs.191.03 crores. As per the internal benchmarking of the department, the cost is pegged at Rs.154 crores.

It had been announced that Union Minister for Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy would lay the foundation for the PTC corridor during his visit to the city on July 13. But it was later dropped from the schedule.

STC corridor

Tenders have also been called for the second corridor, Simhachalam-Vepagunta-Asilmetta via Hanjumanthavaka (STC) and a flyover at Asilmetta. While the corridor is estimated to cost Rs. 160 crores, the flyover is proposed at an outlay of Rs. 67 crores.

Officials say finalising the package for the people to be affected by the PTC corridor will not come in the way of beginning the work. Around 2,000 structures are likely to be affected by the construction of the dedicated corridor for buses. The work will begin at Pendurthi where land is no problem. The bottleneck is in the roughly 3-km, densely-populated Kancharapalem area. It is proposed to give compensation for structures and allow more floor space index. For land, transferable development rights are proposed to be given allowing the affected to sell the rights in other parts of the city. Housing is also proposed for some of the affected families. The entire rehabilitation package is likely to be put up for discussion in the Municipal Corporation meeting for approval. However, officials maintain that it will not come in the way of taking up the work.

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