Bhubaneswar: The proposed metro rail project between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack may face further delays as the Centre is now exploring the possibility of introducing Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services to strengthen connectivity between the twin cities.
Responding to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is examining a proposal to operate Namo Bharat trains on a dedicated railway line linking Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
The minister indicated that cost considerations have been a major factor behind the re-evaluation of the metro plan. According to officials, constructing a surface railway line would cost around ₹30 crore per kilometre, while an elevated metro system could cost nearly ₹300 crore per kilometre, making the metro project substantially more expensive.
The metro project connecting the two cities had earlier been announced by the previous government in Odisha. Its foundation stone was laid on January 1, 2024, with the proposed corridor estimated to cost ₹6,255 crore and include 20 stations linking the state capital and its neighbouring city.
With the Centre now examining the rapid rail alternative, the future of the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack metro project remains uncertain, even as discussions continue on the most viable option to improve transport connectivity between the two urban centres.
-OdishaAge
