Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra announced that a fresh proposal for the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project will soon be submitted to the Central Government.
The initiative marks a renewed push for urban mobility, following the scrapping of the earlier plan due to persistent traffic congestion and logistical challenges.
Speaking after the second meeting of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on the Metro Project, Mohapatra revealed that a new technical committee will be constituted under a revised framework. This expert panel will conduct field visits to various cities with operational metro systems to study best practices and feasibility models.
“The previous route faced major bottlenecks. Even during trial phases, road blockages and public inconvenience were rampant,” the Minister stated. “This time, we aim for a more sustainable and technically sound alignment.”
The committee will prepare a comprehensive report detailing proposed metro lines, parking zones, and integration points. Importantly, public opinion will be solicited to ensure the project reflects the needs of Bhubaneswar’s residents.
The revamped proposal is expected to emphasise decongestion, last-mile connectivity, and modern infrastructure planning, aligning with national urban transport goals.
