Bhubaneswar: Amid growing political demand for the Bhubaneswar Metro, the Odisha government on Friday clarified that the proposed project has not been scrapped but only kept in temporary abeyance.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said the project remains under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s consideration and no final decision has been taken to shelve it.

Metro corporation still operational

Mahapatra said the Bhubaneswar Metro Corporation has not been shut down and its office continues to function. He stressed that the pause is only temporary while the government reassesses the project’s feasibility and explores ways to make it more practical and sustainable.

Viability concerns led to review

The minister said the original metro plan was not financially or operationally viable in its present form. He pointed to difficulties faced during trial runs and test-related disruptions, which affected traffic movement and caused inconvenience to commuters.

Mahapatra said that if construction had continued for a prolonged period under the earlier model, it could have led to significant public hardship.

Comprehensive mobility plan being prepared

To address the city’s long-term transport needs, the state government is preparing a comprehensive mobility plan. Mahapatra said alternative measures, including bypass road infrastructure, are also being considered to improve connectivity and ease congestion.

He added that Bhubaneswar will need a metro system sooner or later, given its rapid urban growth. An inter-ministerial committee has already been formed to study possible options and suggest the most suitable implementation model.

Centre’s support key for future rollout

Mahapatra said Bhubaneswar will need a metro system sooner or later, given its growing urban needs. An inter-ministerial committee has already been formed to study possible options and suggest the best implementation model. He added that any future metro rollout is likely to be taken up with support and cooperation from the Central government.

The proposed Odisha Metro corridor linking Puri, Khordha, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack was approved in 2024 by the previous BJD government at an estimated cost of Rs 6,255 crore. The foundation stone was laid at Trisulia, and the project was scheduled for completion within four years.

Ceigall India Limited and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited had been awarded the tender to execute the project. However, after the change in government in 2024, the authorities terminated the tender last year.

Demand for the metro has grown across party lines. Recently, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra and BJP Lok Sabha MP Aparajita Sarangi urged the Odisha government to reconsider the project to improve the state’s public transport system.