The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will utilise the expertise of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the elevated rail-based metro system for the state capital.
According to the plan, Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Ltd (ORIDL), a joint venture of Odisha government and the Ministry of Railways, will prepare the DPR for the proposed metro rail project between twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, with the aid of DMRC.
Apart from the DPR, a master plan will also be prepared for the metro network covering other areas of Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Cuttack and Puri.
The decisions were made during a high-level meeting presided over by Balwant Singh, vice-chairman of the BDA on 24 April.
The state government has also formed a City Coordination Committee (CCC) comprising entities like the city municipal corporation, development authority, Police Commissionerate among others to look after smooth execution of the metro project.
The Project
Earlier on 01 April, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had 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 had directed the Housing and Urban Development department to complete the DPR on a war-footing for the project.
Equipped with state-of art facilities, the metro 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 metro project in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Khurda and Jatni is likely to entail an investment of over Rs 15,000 crore.