Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project uncertainty: Odisha MP raises matter in Parliament

The reported cancellation or delay of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project was raised in Parliament, with BJD MP Sasmit Patra seeking clarifications from the Centre on the project’s current status.

During the session, Patra asked Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore whether the government was aware of reports that the proposed Bhubaneswar Metro project had either been cancelled or indefinitely postponed. 

Patra also sought details regarding the original feasibility study, passenger traffic assessments, and whether any recent reviews had been conducted.

Further, the MP questioned if the Odisha government had submitted any revised proposal to the Centre regarding changes in cost or scope of the project. Highlighting Bhubaneswar’s growing status as a Tier-II city, Patra asked why the project had not received approval or had been kept in abeyance.

Responding to Patra, Union Minister Kishore said Metro rail projects are highly capital-intensive and are planned as per the provisions of the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, to ensure long-term sustainability and efficiency. He pointed out that the Odisha government had earlier proceeded with the project without seeking central approval or financial assistance.

The state government has now informed the Centre that it is in the process of revising and restructuring Phase-I of the Bhubaneswar Metro project to ensure durability and meet the urban mobility needs of the future, the minister added.

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Notably, the Odisha government has decided to submit a fresh proposal for the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project to the Centre. Housing & Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra had informed that a new technical committee will be formed to assess the current situation and suggest routes for the project. The committee will visit various cities, study local conditions, and prepare a detailed report on the new track alignment.