New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The fate of the much-publicized Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project hangs in the balance, as the Central Government has confirmed that it has not received any formal proposal from the Odisha Government for its implementation.
This disclosure came during a session of the Lok Sabha on Thursday, when Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, responded to a query raised by TDP MP Sribharat Mathukumilli. The MP had sought information on ongoing metro projects, funding allocations, and new proposals submitted in the past five years.
In his reply, Minister Sahu informed the House that while the Centre has approved 17 metro rail proposals from various states during the period in question, no such proposal has been submitted by Odisha for the Bhubaneswar Metro.
He further clarified that urban planning is a State subject, and under the Metro Rail Policy of 2017, the Central Government only considers financial support after receiving detailed proposals from State Governments or Union Territories. The decision to provide assistance depends on the technical feasibility and availability of funds, he added.
The revelation has sparked renewed uncertainty around the metro project, which was first announced on April 1, 2023, by the previous BJD government as a transformative step for urban mobility in the state capital. On January 1, 2024, then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had laid the foundation stone for Phase I of the project at Ratagada near Trisulia in Cuttack, and a budgetary provision of ₹1,000 crore was made in the 2024–25 Vote-on-Account.
An MoU had also been signed between the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), setting a four-year deadline for project completion.
After the BJP came to power in 2024, the new government reiterated its commitment to the metro project.
However, the latest clarification from the Union Minister suggests that the Odisha Government has not yet initiated the formal process required to secure Central assistance—raising concerns about the project’s immediate future and the delay in translating promises into action.
Details Of Metro Rail Proposals Received & Sanctioned During The Last Five Years & Current Year:
