Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development minister Pratap Jena on Tuesday informed the State Assembly that there is no possibility of initiating the metro railway project between the Twin Cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack till 2041.
Raising the issue during the question hour, Congress member Suresh Routray said the state government in 2014 had sanctioned Rs 2.35 crore to a company of Telangana to prepare a draft project report and submit it to the government. But the government is yet to announce further development.
Demanding a clarification on the matter from the minister, he wanted to know whether the government will earmark the fund towards the budget allocation for the proposed project in the next budget session of the Assembly.
Expressing resentment over the apathy of the government, Routray said it is unfortunate that the state government is yet to apprise the Centre of the said proposal till date. He also wanted to know whether the Centre will approve the proposal.
Replying to the question, the Minister said a meeting in this connection was held with the Centre in 2013 where the state government and the Centre had agreed to conduct a feasibility survey for the proposed project for which the Centre had sanctioned Rs 12.61 lakh. Later, the state government awarded the tender to the Telangana-based Balaji Railroad System Ltd which in association with the South Korea-based DOHWA Engineering Co Ltd conducted the survey.
“During the first phase of the survey, the two companies informed the state government that considering the population of the Twin Cities, the proposed project is not feasible. Following the report, the government asked the two companies to submit another feasibility survey report by extending the proposed project to Jatni.
The companies in their next report said considering the population and other aspects, the project is not feasible till 2041. On the basis of the report, the state government decided not to proceed further with the said project, the minister said.
However, taking the demands of the members cutting across party lines, the minister said that state government will urge the Centre for the resurvey of the proposed project with a proposal to extend the project from Cuttack to Chandikhol and from Bhubaneswar to Puri.
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