Bhubaneswar: Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra has assured that the proposed Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project has not been cancelled but merely kept in abeyance, with the state government actively working on a more comprehensive and viable urban transport solution for the region.
““We have not cancelled the metro. It has only been kept in abeyance. Necessary procedures continue, and the Bhubaneswar Metro Corporation remains functional,” he noted.
Mohapatra emphasised the need for a modern metro system but stressed that future planning must go beyond Bhubaneswar alone. The government is instead focusing on a tri-city integration model encompassing Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, which together with Paradip, would evolve into a major economic corridor in the coming years, driving regional growth.
This vision aligns with the state’s broader ambition to develop a mega-metropolitan region spanning around 7,000 sqkm, integrating Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jatani, and Paradip into a unified urban-economic zone. The tri-city core is seen as central to this long-term urbanisation strategy, which aims to significantly boost Odisha’s urban population share.
The minister also raised pointed questions about the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government’s 24-year tenure, criticising the lack of adequate urban infrastructure preparedness despite prolonged rule. He cited the current state of Bhubaneswar’s infrastructure as an example and questioned accountability for past planning shortcomings.
Mohapatra also noted that the previous administration had announced the metro project without sufficient ground assessment or central government alignment.
He explained that proceeding with construction without robust alternative road networks would have caused major public inconvenience, particularly during extended construction and testing phases. Creating proper alternative routes and traffic management plans is therefore a prerequisite for any large-scale infrastructure push.
Recent government decisions to place the project on hold were influenced by several concerns, including lower-than-expected ridership projections, the need to align with the National Metro Rail Policy, and technical reassessments.
An inter-ministerial committee has been formed to evaluate the project’s feasibility, financial viability, and integration into a wider mobility framework. Simultaneously, the state is advancing a Sustainable Urban Mobility Transition Plan for Odisha to shape a holistic, future-ready public transport system. A final call on the metro’s form and timeline will follow the committee’s recommendations and the mobility plan’s outcomes.
Mohapatra underlined the importance of close collaboration with the central government, adoption of suitable technology, and realistic planning to ensure effective implementation that serves public interest without undue disruption.
The original Bhubaneswar Metro proposal, initially advanced under the previous regime, envisioned a roughly 26 km elevated corridor in its first phase linking areas such as Trisulia (near Cuttack) to Biju Patnaik International Airport, with later extensions discussed towards Cuttack and beyond. While some preparatory work and tenders had progressed, the project faced delays and reviews after the change in government in 2024.
