Indus Valley Times

By Sukant Kumar Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 2: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday laid the foundation stone for the much-awaited metro rail project in twin cities Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The project is seen as a new lifeline for  the denizens of the two cities.

As per the state government, the metro rail project will provide an easy transport facility from Bhubaneswar airport to Cuttack via Trishulia.

“The foundation of new Odisha has been laid on the occasion of New Year. The metro rail project will be completed in four years and the people of the state will avail facilities of metro rail. Today will always remain in the history of Odisha’s development,” said Patnaik.

According to Patnaik, the project will have 20 stations from Bhubaneswar airport to Trishulia and it will cost more than Rs 6,000 crore. The entire amount will be borne by the Odisha government and this is the single largest investment made in any infrastructure project in the history of Odisha. It is the flagship programme under the 5T (team work, technology, transparency, transformation and time limit) initiative, he said.

“I have asked to prepare a master plan for the extension of metro rail to Khordha, Puri and Cuttack,” Patnaik added.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the Metro Rail project on Odisha Divas on April 1, 2023. Phase I of the Metro Rail project will connect Bhubaneswar Airport with Trisulia Square, via Chandrasekharpur, Jaydev Vihar, Vani Vihar, Master Canteen, and Rajmahal Square.

On November 14, 2023, the Odisha Cabinet had approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for phase 1 metro railway project at a cost of Rs 5929.38 crore, and engagement of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on a nomination basis as turn-key consultant for the execution of the project.