Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will lay the foundation stone for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project on January 1, 2024.
This was revealed during review of the status of Phase I of Bhubaneswar Metro by the chief minister in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The Detailed Project Report for the metro rail in the capital city has been approved at a total cost of Rs 5929 crore, which will be fully borne by the state government.
The government has already made a provision of Rs 210 crore in the Supplementary Budget for the current year for the project which will be taken up under the 5T initiative.
Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation, a fully owned company of the state government, has been incorporated under the Companies Act. The company has already started functioning.
A high-level committee under the chairmanship of Development Commissioner has been constituted for overseeing the expeditious engagement of an executing agency for the project.
The entire alignment of the metro project from Trisulia Square to Bhubaneswar Airport will be on an elevated structure and will run on the median/side of existing roads with 20 stations. The stations will cover important places like Nandankanan, KIIT Square, Damana Square, Jaydev Vihar, Vani Vihar, Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar railway station, Bapuji Nagar, Sishu Bhawan and Capital Hospital.
The project work, which will be started soon, is targeted for completion within 48 months. The chief minister directed all the agencies to work in close coordination and ensure timely completion of the project.
“The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project is a major landmark project for Odisha. Bhubaneswar will join the select group of top cities in the country with a metro rail system. This project will further strengthen the public transport in the city and enable the economic growth of the city. The city has been recognised for various urban projects and is emerging as a place with an enhanced quality of life. I am sure this mega project will make Bhubaneswar a top liveable city in the country,” Naveen said.
Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian apprised the Chief Minister of the choice of the alignment which was finalised after extensive field visits. The route has been selected to decongest the main roads and benefit maximum number of daily commuters. Subsequent phases of the Metro Rail will connect other centers in and around Bhubaneswar, he added.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development Usha Devi, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Principal Secretary HUD, Mathivathanan and senior officials were present in the meeting.
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