No Proposal Yet from Odisha for Bhubaneswar Metro: Centre

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The future of the much-awaited Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project has come under a cloud of uncertainty after the Central Government revealed that it has not received any formal proposal from the Odisha Government regarding the project’s execution.

The disclosure was made in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, in response to a query by TDP MP Sribharat Mathukumilli. The MP had sought details about ongoing metro projects, fund allocations, and new proposals submitted in the last five years.

In his reply, the Union Minister stated that while 17 metro rail proposals have been sanctioned by the Centre during the stated period, no such proposal has been received from the Odisha Government for the Bhubaneswar Metro project.

“Urban planning is a State subject. The responsibility for planning, developing, and integrating urban transport systems lies with the State Governments. As per the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, the Central Government considers financial assistance only upon receipt of proposals from states or Union Territories, based on feasibility and available resources,” the Minister clarified.

The revelation raises serious concerns about the current status of the metro project, originally announced by the previous BJD government under former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Utkal Dibas (April 1), 2023, as a transformative urban mobility initiative for the capital city.

The foundation stone for the first phase was laid on January 1, 2024, at Ratagada near Trisulia in Cuttack. A budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore was earmarked in the 2024–25 Vote-on-Account, and the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation had signed an MoU with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to execute the project within four years.

Following the change in government in mid-2024, the new BJP-led administration had reassured the public of the project’s continuation, with potential expansion plans. A high-level review meeting, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo, was held on July 16 to assess the revised metro blueprint.

However, the latest clarification from the Centre suggests that despite internal planning and public assurances, the formal process of submitting the proposal is yet to begin—casting doubt on the immediate future of the ambitious urban transport project.