Bhubaneswar, 14 August (H.S.): The Odisha government is preparing to submit a fresh proposal to the Centre for the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project, aiming to revive the ambitious urban transport initiative with updated plans and broader public participation. This was announced by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra on Thursday.

Speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar, Mahapatra said that during the second meeting of the ministerial-level sub-committee on the metro project, it was decided to constitute a new technical committee to reassess the current infrastructure and suggest a revised alignment for the metro route.

“The earlier plan was dropped due to heavy traffic congestion along the proposed route, which caused public inconvenience even during the testing phase,” the Minister said. “To avoid similar issues, the new committee will explore alternative routes for better feasibility and smoother implementation.”

The technical committee will undertake visits to various cities with operational metro systems to study their models and incorporate best practices. It will also engage with local stakeholders to gather feedback and ensure that the final plan addresses both urban mobility needs and public concerns.

A Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) has already been prepared, detailing potential metro corridors, parking zones, and supporting infrastructure. The CMP will serve as the foundation for the new proposal, which will include public consultations before finalisation.

“We will seek the Centre’s assistance for implementation. A dedicated team has been formed today to identify viable routes, parking areas, and prepare a detailed report. People's opinions will also be taken into account before finalising the plan,” Mahapatra added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda