Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Friday clarified that the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project has not been scrapped but only put on hold pending further review.
“Mohan Majhi government has been working for the interest of the people of the state. The proposed metro rail was not a viable project. The test runs led to traffic congestion, causing inconvenience to people. The situation would have worsened if the work had continued for a long period. A bypass road is being constructed. A comprehensive mobility plan would be prepared for the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradeep region, focusing on integrated, sustainable transport solutions, following which a decision on the metro system will be taken,” he told reports.
He further stated that the matter is currently under the consideration of the Chief Minister with an inter-ministerial committee already formed to assess several aspects of the National Metro Rail Policy and decide on the future course of the project. “The Metro project has been temporarily suspended. The Bhubaneswar Metro Corporation has not been closed and its office continues to function,” Mahapatra added.
The minister’s statement followed letters from two MPs urging the state governme
nt to reconsider its recent cabinet decision on the project. Bhubaneswar BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi wrote to CM Majhi on April 8, highlighting rapid urbanisation, severe traffic congestion, and strong public support for a mass rapid transit system in the capital. She emphasised that some infrastructure projects are undertaken for public good rather than immediate profit and offered to assist in coordinating with the Centre for funding and approvals.
Also Read: ‘Some Projects Are Not For Profit’: Aparajita Sarangi Writes To CM Majhi On Bhubaneswar Metro Rail
Separately, BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra also appealed to the CM, suggesting the adoption of the Jaipur Metro funding model involving joint Centre-state participation to revive the project.
The cabinet on April 4 approved the expenditure of ₹273.51 crore already incurred on the project till December 2025 and terminated the agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The move was based on recommendations from the inter-ministerial committee, citing non-compliance with the National Metro Rail Policy 2017, lower-than-expected ridership projections, and insufficient traffic demand that could result in heavy operational losses.
The initial plan envisioned an elevated corridor in the first phase from the city airport to Trishulia with 16 stations, aimed at connecting Bhubaneswar with Cuttack.