Bhubaneswar, May 1: Odisha government on Thursday announced that the upcoming Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project will now be extended to cover more areas in Cuttack, including the SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCB MCH).
Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra shared this update during a press conference.
Initially, the metro was planned to run from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to Trisulia. Now, it will go beyond Trisulia to reach Cuttack’s Netaji Bus Terminal and further up to SCB MCH.
Mohapatra said that connecting just up to Trisulia wouldn't have been helpful for most commuters, so the route is being extended to better serve people travelling to and from Cuttack.
A special committee of top officials and experts has been formed to study the best possible route for the extension. Based on their findings, a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared to include the expanded metro line.
Earlier, the 26-km metro line with 20 stations was estimated to cost Rs 6,255 crore, with the entire cost to be covered by the state.
However, Mohapatra said the central government will now also help fund the project. He assured that the new state government, led by CM Mohan Majhi, will work to finish the project on time.
Work on the Bhubaneswar Metro project officially began on November 20, 2023. The first phase was expected to be completed by 2027.
But with the new route extension and updates to the project report underway, the government is expected to announce a revised completion timeline soon.
