Bhubaneswar: Moving a step forward for expansion of the proposed metro rail project, the State Government is now planning to expand the project till SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack with support from Centre.
This was informed by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra here today.
The previous BJD government had connected the mega project and they had planned to roll out metro rail from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to Trisulia.
However, the BJP Government is not going with the same route plan. It has decided to expand the project till Cuttack to make it feasible.
Minister Mohapatra said the metro was planned to run from Bhubaneswar airport to Trisulia. What will people do after arriving at Trisulia?, he asked.
“So, we have decided to expand it to Cuttack covering Netaji Bus Terminal and further up to SCB Medical College and Hospital where a large number of people are visiting daily,” he justified.
A special committee of top officials including Principal Secretary Usha Padhee and experts has been formed to study the best possible route for the extension. Based on their findings, a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared to include the expanded metro line, the Minister said.
He also informed that the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also extend its support for the project.
Earlier, the 26-km metro line with 20 stations was estimated to cost Rs 6,255 crore, with the entire cost to be covered by the State.
However, Mohapatra said the central government will now also help fund the project. He assured that the new state government, led by CM Mohan Majhi, will work to finish the project on time.
Work on the Bhubaneswar Metro project officially began on November 20, 2023. The first phase was expected to be completed by 2027.
But with the new route expansion plan is underway. So the government is expected to announce a revised completion timeline soon.