Odisha’s first metro rail project in the state’s capital, Bhubaneshwar, took a major step forward after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for the 26-km-long first phase of of the mass transit system with 20 stations.
Delhi Metro conducted exhaustive traffic and topographic surveys, geo-technical investigation, and environmental and social impact assessments before finalising the DPR.
The DPR was submitted to the chief secretary on Wednesday (16 August) in the meeting held by the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), constituted to execute the project.
The BMRCL was notified on 3 August 2023. Its CEO and general manager (administration) have been appointed.
According to DPR, Phase-1 of the metro will connect Biju Patnaik Airport, Capital Hospital, Sishu Bhawan, Bapujinagar, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Ram Mandir Square, Vanivihar, Acharya Vihar Square, Jaydev Vihar Square, Xavier Square, Rail Sadan, District Centre, Damana Square, Patia Square, KIIT Square, Nandan Vihar, Raghunathpur, Nandankanan Zooligical Pak, Phulapokhari, and Trisulia Square, Cuttack.
Earlier on 1 April 2023, 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 Bhubaneswar Airport with Trishulia in Cuttack, which would be subsequently extended to cover Khordha, Puri, and other areas of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack city.
While approving the project, the Odisha Chief Minister had directed the housing and urban development department to complete the DPR on a war-footing for the project.
Equipped with state-of-the-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 the urban city cluster.
Odisha has been strategically devising a plan to unite various urban regions such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, and Jatani, into a single cohesive urban entity.
Sources in the government said the metro rail project could be one of the steps in this direction.
The metro project in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Khurda and Jatni is likely to entail an investment of over Rs 15,000 crore.