Bhubaneswar Metro sees progress: Odisha govt takes project ahead with centre’s assistance, roadmap laid out

The long-discussed Bhubaneswar Metro project gained fresh momentum as the Odisha government officially submitted its proposal to the Centre.

This development was announced by State Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Wednesday. He stated that the metro project will move forward with central consultation and assistance, with a technical committee already set up to conduct surveys and assess feasibility.

Proposal Sent to Centre, Committee to Conduct Surveys

Minister Mahapatra said the state has apprised the Centre of its plans and constituted a committee to carry out ground surveys at different locations. The panel will prepare a detailed feasibility report, including recommendations on routes and cost-sharing models.

Once the committee submits its report, the financial responsibility between the Union and state governments will be finalised. The Chief Minister will then hold further discussions with the Centre on the project’s implementation, informed the Minister.

The feasibility study will determine how viable the project is in terms of cost, passenger load, and technical sustainability. Based on its findings, decisions on route alignment and funding will be taken before work begins.

"In the earlier proposal, the previous government had neither informed nor consulted the Centre. Now, we have sought support, advice, technical and financial assistance from the Centre to develop a comprehensive mobility plan for the metro,” said Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.

Earlier Concerns Raised in Parliament

The development comes against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project, which was recently discussed in Parliament. BJD MP Sasmit Patra had raised questions about reports suggesting cancellation or indefinite delay.

He pressed the Union government for clarity on the status of the project and sought details of earlier feasibility studies and passenger traffic assessments.

Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu responded that metro projects are highly capital-intensive and must adhere to the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, to ensure long-term sustainability.

According to Sahu, the Odisha government is now revising and restructuring Phase I of the Bhubaneswar Metro to make it more durable and responsive to future mobility needs. The state has decided to form a new technical committee to recommend suitable routes and updated cost structures.

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Meanwhile, Minister Mahapatra also said that the committee would also visit other cities with metro systems, study urban growth patterns, and prepare a fresh proposal for alignment and infrastructure.

“A technical team will be constituted, which will visit and analyse metro systems in various parts of the country. Acting on its suggestions and advice, we will then send a proposal to the central government and construct a metro system for Bhubaneswar,” he said.