Odisha Metro railway project work to start before 2023-end: Minister

By Mahendra Darjee

Bhubaneswar, May 26: Odisha housing and urban development minister Usha Devi on Friday informed that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been roped in as consultant to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the metro railway project.

“Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sanctioned the metro railway project for the Bhubaneswar capital region. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is preparing the detailed project report (DPR). The work for the project is likely to start before 2023 end,” said Devi.

G Mathi Vathanan, state urban development department secretary said, “CM has approved the metro rail project for Bhubaneswar capital region which will also include Cuttack and connect with Jatni-Khurdha and later Puri.”

According to Vathanan, the DPR is being prepared for connecting Bhubaneswar with Cuttack. The survey is almost completed and the foundation is likely to be laid by CM Naveen Patnaik in June.

As per official sources, a ‘master plan’ is also being prepared for the metro rail project network covering areas of Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Cuttack, and Puri. In the first phase, the DPR will be prepared for the route from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Trishulia.

The metro rail project will cover areas like Master Canteen, Vani Vihar, Jaydev Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Patia, Raghunathpur, Nandankanan to Trishulia, sources said.

The Odisha CM approved the metro rail project for Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Utkala Divas, the statehood day of Odisha.