Bhubaneswar: In a major shift in plan, the Odisha government announced on Sunday that the much-awaited metro rail project in Bhubaneswar will not involve an elevated system.
Disclosing this, Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan told reporters that the government is working on a plan to introduce an underground metro rail network instead of elevated system in the state capital.
Stating that the elevated metro rail concept has been dropped due to various logistical and urban planning concerns, he said the landscape and traffic density of the city do not suit an elevated structure. Therefore, the government is now moving ahead with an underground metro rail system, Harichandan said.
To go ahead with the proposed underground metro, a new alignment is being made and the Urban Development Department has been asked to conduct a proper survey for the purpose.
Describing Bhubaneswar as a beautiful city, the Minister said that elevated metro corridor will take away the beauty of the state capital and its adjoining areas. Therefore, it has been decided to go for an underground metro rail project. How it can be executed and what survey will be undertaken by the Urban Development will be discussed.
The Housing and Urban Development Department has already begun the groundwork for preparing a plan for the project. Feasibility studies and consultations with technical experts and stakeholders are underway to assess the most suitable routes and infrastructural needs for the proposed underground system.
The revised strategy reflects the Odisha government’s commitment to developing sustainable and future-ready public transport infrastructure while minimizing disruptions to the city’s existing landscape and road networks.
Further details about project timelines, funding models, and implementation phases are expected to be announced after the completion of the planning process.
