Odisha Budget: Rs 1K Cr For Bhubaneswar Metro; Film City & FDI Park In Offing

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Thursday proposed Rs 1000 crore for the first phase of the much-awaited Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project in the state budget for 2024-2025.

The previous BJD govt had also earmarked an equivalent amount for the project in its interim budget announced in February.

The government announced a capital outlay of Rs 58,195 crore to augment the productivity and efficiency of infrastructural facilities.

While announcing Rs 952 crore for development of world-class sports infrastructure, the CM said that a new stadium will be built in the state capital. He also stressed that necessary assistance will be sought from the Centre for completion of the pending Capital Region Ring Road Project and the state’s coastal highway project in the budget. “Once these projects are complete, traffic congestion in urban centres will get reduced and new industrial clusters will come up, ushering in a new era of development and substantial generation of employment,” Majhi added.

Majhi also proposed a new scheme ‘FDI Park in State Capital Region’ with a budgetary provision of Rs 20 crore to develop the state into a manufacturing hub, with special focus on automobile, EV, Semiconductor, and IT/ITES industry. “We are planning to build a Film City in the state. In this regard, an amount of Rs.20 crore has been proposed for redevelopment of Kalinga Studio,” he further said.

He also mentioned about allocation of Rs 50 crore for a new scheme, Din Dayal Karmachari Niwas, for constructing hostels or apartment complexes in Kalinga Nagar, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Bhubaneswar, Jagatpur, Keonjhar and Damanjodi.

Moreover, the government has apportioned Rs 606 crore under Unnati scheme to establish more smart cities equipped with digital infrastructure across the state. “It also endeavours to bolster urban resilience to climate change and other challenges, ensuring sustainable development for future generations,” Majhi said.

The state government has also planned to construct 75,000 km road over a period of five years. Areas having no road connectivity will be given top priority. New bridges will be constructed on rivers and water bodies to improve connectivity to inaccessible areas. Tribal habitations will also be provided road connectivity on priority.

BUDGET ALLOCATIONS

New city development: Rs 918 crore

Development of railway projects: Rs 600 crore

Roads and bridges: Rs 15,865 crore

PWD roads: Rs 6,180 crore

Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana: Rs 3,190 crore

‘Vikasit Gaon Vikasit Odisha’ initiative: Rs 1,000 crore

Land bank scheme: Rs 200 crore