Metro dreams derail in delays

Stuck at platform

1. Neither the Vijayawada nor the Visakhapatnam Metro project has seen any physical progress
2. Detailed Project Reports for both metro systems have reportedly been awaiting Central approval for nearly 18 months
3. Experts warn that prolonged uncertainty is escalating construction, land acquisition and financing costs
4. Despite Andhra Pradesh being governed by NDA allies and enjoying close ties with the Centre, the lack of movement on the metro projects has raised concerns

KIRANMAI TUTIKA | AMARAVATI

Two years have passed since the NDA government assumed office in Andhra Pradesh with promises of accelerated infrastructure development, rapid urbanization and world-class connectivity. Yet, one of the state’s most ambitious urban transport projects, the Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam Metro Rail systems, remains confined to files, presentations and political speeches, with virtually no visible progress on the ground.

The irony is difficult to ignore. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena are key constituents of the NDA, while Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu enjoys a strong working relationship with the Centre. Several projects have received approvals and support from New Delhi. However, when it comes to metro rail projects for Andhra Pradesh’s two largest urban centers, the story remains one of delays, uncertainty and bureaucratic limbo.

Speaking to Metro India, CPM State Secretary Baburao said, “For more than a decade, successive governments have been talking about Metro Rail for Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, but people have not seen even the foundation of the project. Urban infrastructure cannot remain trapped in DPRs and official meetings forever. The Centre and State governments must stop passing responsibility and announce a clear timeline. Every year of delay increases costs and deprives citizens of a modern public transport system.”

The origins of the metro proposal date back to the post-bifurcation period. Recognizing the need for modern mass transit systems, the state government established the Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation in 2015 and began pursuing metro projects for Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. More than a decade later, not a single pillar has risen, nor has a single kilometer of track been laid.

The most pressing concern is the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which has reportedly been awaiting clearance in Delhi for nearly 18 months. What has puzzled officials and observers alike is the absence of any major objections or queries from the Centre. The proposal has neither been approved nor rejected, leaving it trapped in administrative uncertainty.

Urban planners point out that delays in infrastructure projects come at a heavy cost. Every year of inaction pushes up construction expenses, land acquisition costs and financing requirements. Metro projects typically take seven to nine years from groundbreaking to operational status. With approvals yet to be secured, Andhra Pradesh risks seeing these projects become even more expensive and difficult to execute.

Questions are also being raised about whether concerns over ridership and financial viability are influencing the Centre’s approach. While Visakhapatnam, with its growing industrial and commercial footprint, is expected to generate substantial metro traffic, doubts reportedly persist over Vijayawada’s occupancy levels. Yet, experts argue that metro systems are not merely transport projects but long-term urban development investments that shape future growth. Senior urban development official, on the condition of anonymity said, “The biggest challenge is not construction but uncertainty. Once approvals are granted, execution can be planned in phases. However, when proposals remain pending for months without a final decision, project costs escalate, land acquisition becomes more difficult and public confidence is affected.”

The larger question remains unanswered: if Andhra Pradesh, governed by an NDA ally and represented by influential leaders at the national level, cannot secure timely movement on its metro projects, what is causing the delay?

Until a clear decision emerges from Delhi, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam remain cities waiting for a metro that exists only on paper, while valuable time, money and development opportunities continue to slip away.