BHUBANESWAR (Metro Rail & Steel): In a significant move to revolutionize public transportation, the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, sanctioned the initiation of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project Phase I. The approved phase, spanning from the Biju Patnaik International Airport to Trisulia Square near Cuttack, involves an investment of Rs 5,929.38 crore. The project will be executed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as a turn-key consultant, with a fee of Rs 326.56 crore.
The 26-kilometer-long Phase I will encompass 20 strategically placed stations, including Capital Hospital, Rajmahal Square, Vani Vihar Square, Jaydev Vihar, and Patia, among others. According to an official government statement, the primary objective behind this ambitious undertaking is to introduce a comfortable, safe, and convenient metro rail system for the populace in Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Cuttack, and Puri regions.
The infrastructure blueprint entails elevated viaducts hosting the metro rail tracks and stations. The Bhubaneswar Metro promises state-of-the-art coaches, an advanced ticketing system, and a sophisticated signaling system as its standout features. Expressing future plans, an official mentioned the blueprint to develop the Cuttack-Puri-Bhubaneswar triangle as a metropolitan city within the Greater Capital Region, catering to an estimated population of approximately 50 lakh people. Subsequent phases will encompass other areas of Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Cuttack, and Puri. Notably, the government had earlier sanctioned the metro project under its 5T initiative.
Anticipating a four-year completion timeline for Phase I, the government aims to lay the foundation stone for the Bhubaneswar Metro project on January 1. Government sources have indicated minimal land acquisition requirements for the tracks, mostly located above medians or along existing roads. The Trisulia area is earmarked for the construction of the metro train depot.
