Bhubaneswar May Have To Wait Longer For Swanky Multi-Modal Transport Hub

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has reiterated his ministry’s commitment to transforming Bhubaneswar railway station into a world-class multi-modal hub.

Replying to a written question of Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, Amar Patnaik, on Friday, Goyal said the Ministry of Railways and the Odisha government have jointly undertaken the redevelopment of the railway station. “With a smart city environment, the BDA has appointed a consultant to prepare the plan,” he informed.

This came amid reports of likely delay in the world-class terminal, which is one of the key projects under the Smart City programme in Bhubaneswar. Deadline for the project is December 2022. 

GROUND REALITY

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and East Coast Railway (ECoR) on September 19, 2019, for developing Bhubaneswar railway station and the area around it into a world-class and swanky multi-modal transport hub, a first-of-its-kind project in the country.

The state government, however, is yet to invite bids for the project and approve the expenditure of Rs 840 crore for the spectacularly ambitious project, a report published in The New Indian Express on November 19, 2020, said.

BDA vice-chairman Prem Chandra Chaudhary was quoted as saying that tender would be floated once the urban body gets the go-ahead from the government on the detailed estimate of the project submitted by it.

Further attributing the delay to COVID-19 pandemic, the report, quoting sources in the Housing and Urban Development Department, added that such a large expenditure might need the approval of the State Cabinet.

Land acquisition for the project in the Master Canteen has been completed.

THE PROJECT

Surbana Jurong, a Singapore-based international design consultant, had designed the project four years back.

The two project components:

>> Public infrastructure to be developed on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore

>> The mixed-use real estate to be developed on public-private partnership (PPP) mode with an investment of Rs 540 crore.

The work will be jointly undertaken by railway authorities, BDA and Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited.

SALIENT FEATURES

The proposed multi-modal hub will have a new terminal building for the railway station, a city bus terminal, public car park and other allied public utilities, a mixed-use development over the land belonging to BDA and the Odisha government’s General Administration department and a concourse connecting both sides of the station, across all platforms.

The new station building and the two new railway lines with platforms will be developed in an integrated manner over the land belonging to Railways and the state government. The proposed building will have G+5 floors of which three floors will be earmarked for the use by Railways. The area earmarked for Railways will be 1.74 lakh sq ft, which will have a city bus terminal, multi-level car parking and dedicated pick up and drop off lanes for taxi, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles.

COST-SHARING AGREEMENT

The initial redevelopment work will be carried out with an investment of Rs 130 crore. Of the total investment, the national transporter will spend Rs 70 crore on construction of two additional lines with one platform, full cover shed, the extension of FOB and all modern passenger amenities. The state government will invest around Rs 60 crore for construction of the new station building having G+2.