Work on metro train project in Bhubaneswar by 2023-end: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The work on the much awaited metro train project in Bhubaneswar will begin by the end of 2023, Home and Urban Development Minister Usha Devi informed after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday.

He said that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been engaged as a consultant and DRP is being prepared for metro rail system for Bhubaneswar capital region.

"The CM is likely to lay the foundation stone for the project in June," H&UDD secretary G Mathivathanan told a press conference.

He further said that the survey for the proposed project has been completed. “The DRP prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has reached its final stage. Routes have been identified for running metro trains Initially, metro trains will run between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and later the service will be extended to Jatni and Puri, he said.

On the occasion of Uttarakhand Day, the metro train project connecting Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri and Khurda was announced to facilitate travel for daily commuters and tourists. “The project has been studied by various stakeholders and a feasibility report has been prepared. It will be primarily based on elevated corridors and will be fully funded by the state government, he said.

Sources said that the project will reduce the travel time of 64 km between Puri and Bhubaneswar to less than half an hour.

At the flag-off ceremony of the Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express earlier this month, Railway Minister Ashwini Vishnu also spoke about the launch of Vande Sleeper and Vande Metro in Odisha. Vande Metro, a short-distance version of Vande Bharat Express, will run between cities less than 100 km apart and offer passengers a faster travel experience.