Latest news with #BhubaneswarMetroRailProject
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Not viable': Bhubaneswar metro project hangs in balance as Odisha govt cancels tender
Uncertainty looms over the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project after the Odisha government has cancelled the tender for the ambitious urban mobility project initiated by the erstwhile Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government. Odisha's Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra said the decision to cancel the tender was taken in view of delay in implementation and to avoid cost escalation. 'The metro project initiated by the previous government wouldn't have been viable. Our government has formed an inter-minister committee to take a fresh look into the project by studying different aspects, its viability and to submit a fresh proposal before the project,' said the urban development minister. Mohapatra said the state government would take up the project in consultation with the Centre unlike the BJD government that had decided to take it on its own. Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone of the project on January 1, 2024, months before the simultaneous polls. It was estimated to spend a whopping Rs 6,300 crore to develop the first phase of the project with a length of 26 km from Bhubaneswar Airport to Trisulia near Orissa high court in Cuttack with 20 stations and to extend it to Puri, Khurda and Cuttack subsequently. It was decided to develop the metro rail track and stations on elevated viaduct. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was roped in by the Odisha government to implement the project that floated the tender and engaged different agencies to take up the project. Though ground work for the metro project was started, it hit hurdles after the BJP assumed power in Odisha on June 24. Taking a dig at the BJP government over cancellation of the metro project as he said the double-engine government has 'betrayed' the people of Odisha and the decision will push Bhubaneswar 10 years back. 'It has always been our dream to develop #Bhubaneswar into a world-class city. We have been focusing on world class sports infrastructure, organising marquee international events, providing seamless modern transport and developing the IT ecosystem to transform the temple city into a world class city,' wrote Patnaik on X. Patnaik, in his post, wrote that the Bhubaneswar metro project would have reshaped the way city moves with #MoBus and other last mile connectivity complementing the city transport. 'Apart from alleviating congestion inside the city significantly, it would have been a huge catalyst for the expansion of the city. Realising the urgent need of a Metro System for enhanced mobility, we had set a watertight timeline of 2027 for Phase 1 of the project,' he noted.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Odisha cancels Bhubaneswar metro project, Naveen Patnaik calls it shocking
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik came down heavily on the BJP government in the state after the latter scrapped the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project launched during his tenure, saying the double-engine government has betrayed the people with a move which will take the state 10 years Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief, dropped a scathing post on social media criticising the Mohan Charan Manjhi government for calling off a contract with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).advertisement"Shocked to know that Bhubaneswar Metro Rail contracts have been cancelled by BJP-led #Odisha Govt. It has always been our dream to develop #Bhubaneswar into a world-class city. We have been focusing on world-class sports infrastructure, organising marquee international events, providing seamless modern transport and developing an IT ecosystem to transform the temple city into a world-class city," Patnaik posted on X (formerly Twitter). Patnaik claimed that the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project would have reshaped the way the city moves with MoBus, public transport bus service in the Odisha capital, and other last-mile connectivity complementing the city transport. He said that not only would the metro services have alleviated the congestion inside the city, but would have also proved a catalyst for the expansion of the that his government had set a watertight deadline for the completion of Phase 1 of the project in 2027, realising the urgent need for a metro system for enhanced mobility, Patnaik said, "The double-engine government has betrayed the people of Odisha by cancelling an important project like Metro Rail. The shocking decision by the double-engine will push the city 10 years back".Earlier, Odisha Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said that the Manjhi government is planning a "feasible" metro project for said that while the previous BJP government did not seek the Centre's help in building the metro project, the incumbent government wants it to be a joint venture with the Central government."We will have the Metro train project differently from the past government's plan, which was not feasible. A new DRP will be prepared and sent to the Centre for approval," he to Mahapatra, the Patnaik government planned a fully state-funded project at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, which would have connected Biju Patnaik International Airport with Trisulia Square.- EndsWith agency inputsMust Watch
New Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Inter-ministerial committee discusses modalities for Bbsr metro rail project
BHUBANESWAR: The first meeting of the inter-ministerial committee on Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project held at Lok Seva Bhawan on Wednesday discussed key modalities for implementation of the project which has seen several changes in its plan in the past few months. Chaired by deputy chief minister KV Singh Deo, the meeting discussed on a comprehensive mobility plan to address the increasing traffic congestion in Twin City Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. 'We discussed several issues like inter-departmental coordination, strong and efficient public transport system, comprehensive mobility plan for traffic de-congestion, rail-road integration, e-mobility and other modalities for seamless transition across transport modes,' Works minister Prithiviraj Harichandan told reporters after the meeting. He said, a clear picture on the roadmap of the metro rail project will emerge after another two to three rounds of discussion, taking views of experts into account while keeping in mind the convenience of people and traffic issues in the two cities. As per the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the committee constituted a sub-committee on the day which will be headed by Singh Deo. A panel of ministers will be members of the sub-committee. The deputy chief minister said the ministerial panel has already held discussions with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation CEO Kalyan Patnaik, Vikas Kumar and Pramit Garg. The metro project has undergone several changes after the BJP government came to power. Ground work for phase-I construction of the project was put on hold as the government decided to revise the DPR to facilitate a flyover on the elevated corridor from Jaydev Vihar to Nandankanan. However last month, Harichandan had said that the government will revisit the project as an elevated corridor is not possible in the city due to logistical and urbanisation issues. Besides, it will severely impact the beautification of the city. 'The project will be an underground metro project,' he had said. Industries minister Sampad Chandra Swain, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja, principal secretary, Finance Saswat Mishra, principal secretary, Housing and Urban Development Usha Padhee and BMC commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil attended the meeting and presented their views.
