Andhra Pradesh government on Monday, 1 September, entrusted the task of overseeing construction of Metro Rail projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada to E Sreedharan, former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), by appointing him as project advisor.
The ex-MD of DMRC is popularly known as "Metro Man" of India as he pioneered the Delhi Metro Rail project, the first one in India.
Sreedharan, who is the Principal Advisor of DMRC, was in Hyderabad on Monday and checked the Metro Rail's test-run from Nagole station to Survey of India station.
AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced the appointment of Sreedharan to AP's Metro Rail projects after a meeting with the latter on Monday. It can be recalled that Naidu, as chief minister of undivided AP during 1995-2004, had roped in Sreedharan for Hyderabad Metro Rail Project, which is still under construction.
Andhra Pradesh government has also proposed a Metro rail project for Tirupati in Rayalaseema region of the state. But, it is said that Metro Rail work could be taken up in Tirupati only after completing the projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Naidu has asked Sreedharan to submit a feasibility report on Tirupati project.
The CM has asked DMRC to complete Metro rail projects in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada within a period of three-and-a-half years.
Naidu has announced his government's intention to provide Metro Rail facility to Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali and Mangalagiri (VGTM) area, where the state's new capital city is likely to come up.
Sreedharan, who congratulated Naidu for becoming the chief minister of the state again, assured to assist him to build Metro Rail projects in the state.
Earlier Sreedharan, along with Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, NVS Reddy, inspected the ongoing works at Uppal Metro Rail Depot and Nagole station. Sreedharan praised the innovative design features and pre-cast techniques initiated in Hyderabad Metro Rail project.
The former MD of DMRC stated that Hyderabad Metro Rail will bring many more laurels to Indian metro rail sector and L&T, which is constructing the project. Reddy thanked Sreedharan for joining him in the test-run of the Metro Rail and sought his guidance till the end of the project.
Kerala government is also utilising the services of Sreedharan to build Metro and Mono rails in the state. The state government has planned Mono Rail facility for its capital Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, besides the ongoing Metro Rail project in Kochi.
