No metro for Bhubaneswar, not even a proposal sent: Minister reveals in Parliament

In a recent statement in Parliament, the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu has revealed that the Central Government has not received any proposal for a metro rail project in Bhubaneswar. 

This revelation came during a detailed listing of 17 new metro rail projects under consideration across the country, in which Bhubaneswar's name was notably absent.

Despite growing demands and expectations for a metro rail system in the capital city of Odisha, the absence of a formal proposal with the Centre has now been officially acknowledged. The Minister’s written reply to a question in the Parliament makes it clear that while several cities are moving forward with new metro rail projects, Bhubaneswar is currently not among them.

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"'Urban planning' is a State subject, therefore, the respective State Governments are responsible for planning, initiating and developing urban transport infrastructure including integration amongst various modes of public transport. As per Metro Rail Policy, 2017, the Central Government considers financial assistance for Metro Rail proposals in cities or urban agglomerates based on the feasibility of the proposal and availability of resources, as and when posed by the concerned State Government/Union Territories (UTS). The details of metro rail projects being implemented with the help of financial assistance from the Union Government, city and State-wise with cost sharing pattern," stated the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu in a written reply.

However, as per sources, the newly formed government in Odisha may give a proposal and take the help of the Centre after the DPR of the metro rail project is prepared.