Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a letter to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday has sought signing of a revised MoU between the State government and the Ministry to develop the Bhubaneswar Railway Station in a single phase citing that the project will be further delayed if undertaken in two phases.
Patnaik stated that the State government has already offered to develop a modern Railway Station building with international-standard passenger amenities in the capital city. The modern station facility is planned to be built on land belonging to the State government where a multi-modal hub is being developed which will seamlessly integrate with the Smart City development plans.
The State government has already engaged a design firm from Singapore, Subarna Jurong, for this purpose, he added.
"The MoU that was to be signed on January 20, 2018 envisaged taking up of the project in two phases. As the same could not be signed and the project has already been delayed considerably, it is proposed by the State government that the whole project may be taken up in one phase," read the letter.
"Accordingly, State government has moved for signing of a revised MoU, which may be expeditiously approved by the Railways," it added.
Patnaik further stated that as the project is of immense importance to the citizens of Bhubaneswar and State government is committed to bear its total cost, the MoU may be signed in the State Capital on a mutually convenient date.