The Hindu Business Line : Srei-led consortium short-listed for MRTS project in AP

A FIVE-MEMBER consortium led by Srei Infrastructure Finance Ltd (Srei) has been short-listed by the Andhra Pradesh Government for development and operation of the proposed integrated Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in Hyderabad.

The Srei-led consortium will design, finance, build, operate, maintain and transfer the MRTS to the Government of Andhra Pradesh after expiry of the concession period.

The other members of the consortium are SMRT Corporation Ltd of Singapore, Singapore Technologies Electronics Ltd (ST Electronics) - the electronic arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering, Mumbai-based Essar Construction Ltd and Sembcorp Engineers and Contractors.

According to sources close to the Chief Minister's Office in Hyderabad, for Phase 1 of the elevated MRTS project, three corridors have been identified - Miyapur-Chaitanyapuri (26.27 km), Tarnaka-Panjagutta-Hitech City (20 km) and Secunderabad-Faluknuma via Charminar (13.18 km). The project is expected to be developed on a `Build, Operate and Transfer' (BOT) basis, with a 37-year concession period for all the three corridors.

The estimated project cost for all the three corridors, according to sources, is Rs 4,300 crore (around Rs 73 crore per km). Construction of the total project (to be completed in phases) is expected to take three years, while it will be two years for the first two corridors. Construction is expected to begin in May this year.

Sources said that Phases 1 and 2 would be developed to transport a minimum of 25,000 passengers per hour per direction, upgradable to around 55,000 in the near future. The third corridor, it is learnt, would have a minimum carrying capacity of 20,000 passengers per hour per direction, upgradable to 36,000.

The State Government-identified traffic forecast is 11.11 lakh passengers/day in 2008, 12.21 lakh passengers in 2011 and 18.81 lakh passengers by 2021. The progressive fare fixed by the State Government is said to be Re 1 per passenger km, and for an initial distance below 2 km, the fare may be Rs 5 per passenger.

Two 132/133 KV sub-stations (one for each line) are proposed to be set up.