CM Naveen to Lay Foundation for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project on January 1, 2024

Bhubaneswar to Join Select Group of Country’s Top Cities with a Metro Rail System

Phase-1 to Connect Bhubaneswar Airport to Trisulia Square with Total 20 Stations

State Government Will Bear Entire Cost of Project

Will Be Completed in 4 Years

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will lay foundation for the much-awaited Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project on January 1, 2024.

The Chief Minister on Saturday reviewed the status of Phase I of the project. The Detailed Project Report has been approved at a total cost of Rs. 5929 crore, which will be fully borne by the Govt of Odisha. It will be taken up as a 5T initiative of the State Government. For the current year, Rs. 210 Crore has been provided in the Supplementary Budget.

The Chief Minister said, “The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project is a major landmark project for Odisha. Bhubaneswar will join the select group of top cities in the country with a metro rail system. This project will further strengthen the public transport in the city and enable the economic growth of the city. The city has been recognized for various urban projects and is emerging as a city with an enhanced quality of life. I am sure this mega project will make Bhubaneswar as a top liveable city in the country”.

Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation, a fully owned company of Government of Odisha has been newly incorporated under the Companies Act and the Company has started functioning. A High Level Committee under the chairmanship of Development Commissioner-cum-ACS has been constituted for overseeing the expeditious engagement of an executing agency for the project, according to an official release.

The entire alignment of the Metro project from Trisulia Square to Bhubaneswar Airport will be on an elevated structure and will run on the median/side of the existing roads, with 20 stations. The stations will cover important places like Nandankanan, KIIT Square, Damana Square, Jaydev Vihar, Vani Vihar. Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Bapuji Nagar, Sishu Bhawan and Capital Hospital.

The project work will be started soon and is targeted for completion within 48 months.

The CM directed all the agencies to work in close coordination and ensure timely completion of the project.

Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian apprised the Chief Minister regarding the choice of the alignment which was finalised after extensive field visits. The route has been selected to decongest the main roads and benefit maximum number of daily commuters. He further added that the subsequent phases of the Metro project will connect other growth centers in and around Bhubaneswar.

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Usha Devi, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Principal Secretary HUD Mathivathanan, Senior officials were present during the meeting.