Several bottlenecks have been hindering the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) project taken up in two corridors in the city under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) authorities have intensified efforts to remove some of them and get the project going. The total cost of the project is Rs 320 crore.

The transfer of a piece of land from the Navy in the Pendurti corridor to the corporation may finally get the approval from the Union Defence Ministry. The corporation needs 1.6 acres at Marripalem for widening the road and it has been agreed in principle that in lieu of that GVMC will give to the Navy 3.2 acres of land at Mudasarlova.

The 20-km Pendurti corridor is taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 160 crore and so far Rs 110 crore has been spent, completing 75 per cent of the work. The land transfer issue is holding up the project. The initial period of JNNURM is coming to an end, but the approval has not been given yet. The scheme, however, was extended by two years and it is likely to get the nod now. The land transfer was approved by the Eastern Naval Command here and the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi. But it has to be approved by the Secretary, Defence, and finally by the Defence Minister. Once the land is handed over, it will easy to complete the work as there are no structures on the stretch, say corporation officials.

Railway land

The corporation authorities have also reached an agreement with the Railways over transfer of six acres for BRTS and are also making frantic efforts to remove other hurdles and complete the project by mid-2013, it is learnt. The project will greatly ease traffic problem in the city.

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