Bhubaneswar, Jan 1
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik started the new year with a 26-km roadshow in Bhubaneswar followed by inaugurating phase 1 of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project worth Rs 6,000 crore. Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone, Patnaik said: “This new year day will always remain special in the history of Odisha’s development journey.”
“The metro project will usher transformation in the urban transportation. It will connect Bhubaneswar with Cuttack, the old capital of Odisha. I have promised for metro project which I have been fulfilling today,” Patnaik added. The metro project is expected to be completed in four years.
Patnaik emphasised that the entire project cost of Rs 6,000 crore will be borne by the state government. “This is a single largest investment made in any infrastructure project in the history of Odisha. it’s a flagship programme of my government taken up under the 5T initiative. Let us work together for a new and empowered Odisha,” he said.
The phase-I of the project will cover a distance of 26 km from Bhubaneswar airport to Trisulia square with 20 stations. The CM also directed officials to prepare master plan for its expansion to nearby towns like Khurda, Puri and Cuttack in subsequent phases.
The Odisha government has already roped in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as a consultant for construction of the metro project in the state capital. The detailed project report for the phase-I has already been completed and approved by the state government.
As per the plan, the entire metro route and station will be developed on elevated corridors and a train will run in every 10 minutes from both sides carrying around 750 people. The state government has announced ultra-modern coaches and advanced ticketing system for the metro project. Tender for the project will be floated soon, as per official sources.
Earlier in the day, Patnaik also unveiled a life-size statue of his father former CM Biju Patnaik at the Nandankanan square.
