Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 1 April announced the development of the state’s first metro project in Bhubaneshwar.
According to the project approval signed by the Chief Minister on Utkala Dibasa, the statehood day of Odisha, the Metro Project will connect the capital city Bhubaneswar with other peripheral urban centres — Cuttack, Puri and Khordha.
Official sources in the Housing and Urban Development department said that in the first phase, the metro will run from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to Netaji Bridge, the entry point to Cuttack from north Bhubaneswar.
The Metro route will cover a distance of over 20 km and will tentatively touch major landmarks such as Bhubaneswar railway station, Nandankanan, Patia, and Vani Vihar.
The project will be predominantly based on elevated corridors and will be entirely funded by the state government, said the Chief Minister.
The metro project is likely to be expanded to other nearby towns like Cuttack, Khurda and Puri in subsequent phases, said official sources.
While approving the project, the Odisha CM directed the Housing and Urban Development department to complete the detailed project report (DPR) on a war-footing for the project.
“We have always strived to push boundaries and improve the lives of our people. And today, with the announcement of this new project, we are taking another step towards a new Odisha to provide best in class metro services for the people of the state,” CM Patnaik announced.
“Equipped with state-of art facilities, it will not only offer world-class, environment-friendly urban transport for an emerging and aspirational Odisha, but also spur economic activities and accelerate expansion of our urban city cluster, covering Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha.
The emergence of a modern and planned city cluster will attract people, investments, trade and tourism like never before. This will be a truly transformational project implemented using the principles of 5T,” he said in a video-message.
The metro project in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Khurda and Jatni is likely to entail an investment of over Rs 15,000 crore.