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The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project has entered a reset phase, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officially terminating contracts awarded to two private firms for Phase-I construction last Saturday.
However, the state government officials have confirmed that the project is not shelved but will proceed under a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Why Was Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project Tenders Scrapped?
The terminated contracts were earlier awarded to Ranjit Buildcon Ltd and Ceigall India Ltd for key stretches of the 26-km metro corridor from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) to Trisulia in Cuttack.
Specifically, Ranjit Buildcon was tasked with the Capital Hospital to Acharya Vihar Square (7.12 km, Rs 561 crore) and Acharya Vihar to KIIT Square (7.27 km, Rs 625 crore) sections. Ceigall was assigned the KIIT Square to Trisulia Square segment (10.97 km, Rs 899 crore).
According to The New Indian Express reports, citing sources from Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the tenders were terminated to avoid idle expenditure, as construction had remained suspended for over eight months due to planning and coordination issues.
The decision follows a directive from the state government to overhaul the DPR to better align with the city’s evolving urban transport needs.
Bhubaneswar Metro Project Still On Track
Despite the cancellations, both the DMRC and BMRCL have clarified that the metro project remains active. A BMRCL official said the existing partnership with DMRC is intact and the metro initiative will resume once the revised DPR is finalised.
The Odisha government intends to float fresh tenders after the revised blueprint is approved.
Revised Blueprint In Progress For Bhubaneswar Metro Project
On July 16, a high-level sub-committee chaired by Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo reviewed the status of the project and explored strategies to integrate it with broader urban mobility plans.
The government aims to ease traffic congestion in Bhubaneswar and strengthen public transport infrastructure with the metro playing a central role.
Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated that a dedicated inter-ministerial task force is already working on the revised DPR. The new plan is expected to address prior execution hurdles and optimise the metro’s alignment and design.
The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project, announced with a proposed investment of Rs 6,225 crore, was envisioned as a transformative urban transit solution.
While delays and logistical issues forced a temporary pause, the state government’s decision to reset with a revised DPR could see the project regain momentum in the coming months, offering the capital city its long-awaited step into modern mass rapid transit.
