Bhubaneswar, 16 July (H.S.): The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Sub-Committee on the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project was convened today at the Lok Seva Bhawan Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
Constituted under the direction of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, the Sub-Committee comprises senior ministers and key officials, with the Deputy Chief Minister—who also holds the Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment and Energy portfolios—serving as its chairperson.
The meeting focused on major aspects of the Metro Rail project, including implementation modalities, inter-departmental coordination, and the development of a robust public transport system for Bhubaneswar. A key agenda was the formulation of a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) to ease traffic congestion and facilitate a smooth rail-road transition.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo emphasized that the project’s next phase would prioritize public convenience and urban decongestion. High-level discussions have already been initiated with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials including CEO Kalyan Patnaik, Managing Director Vikas Kumar, and Director (Business Development) Pramit Garg.
Key ministers present at the meeting included Law, Works and Excise Minister Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan, and Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education Minister Shri Sampada Chandra Swain, both of whom shared strategic insights on the project.
Top bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Finance Principal Secretary Shri Saswat Mishra, Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary Smt. Usha Padhee, and BMC Commissioner Shri Rajesh Pravakar Patil, also participated in the deliberations, presenting their department-specific perspectives and aligning on coordinated action.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
