Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Senior Biju Janata Dal leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra wrote to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Monday, requesting his prompt action to prevent the state government from abandoning the planned Metro Rail project, which was started during the previous administration. Patra contended in his letter that the project, which was envisioned by the previous BJD administration led by Naveen Patnaik, is an essential mass-transit backbone for the Bhubaneswar—Cuttack—Khurda—Puri corridor.
“I write to urgently seek your intervention to ensure that the proposed Metro Rail Project in Odisha is not scrapped by the Government of Odisha. Envisioned under the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik ji, the project is a critical mass transit backbone for the Bhubaneswar—Cuttack-Khurda—Puri corridor,” wrote the BJD MP.
He also said that abandoning the Metro Rail project will jeopardize a carefully thought-out infrastructure project and deny the people of Odisha a crucial economic and transportation lifeline. The top BJD leader pointed out that such initiatives must be maintained in the public interest as governance is ongoing. He emphasized that the former BJD government’s Metro project was fully sponsored by the state.
“As the Odisha Government is scrapping the project, your Ministry can ensure its revival as Metro Project development is being governed by the National Urban Transport Policy and the Metro Rail Policy 2017. In line with these frameworks, I urge your Ministry to prevail upon the Government of Odisha to not scrap the project; and facilitate its implementation through a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement or equivalent support. This is essential to uphold national policy, ensure continuity in infrastructure development, and protect the long-term interests of the people of Odisha. I request urgent and appropriate action” noted Patra.
According to him, these policies specifically allow for a 50:50 Center–State equitable participation model through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), central support such as Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and policy guarantee that states do not have to give up on metro projects because of financial limitations.
The Bhubaneswar metro rail project was eventually abandoned on Saturday when the state cabinet, chaired by Mohan Charan Majhi, decided to end its contract with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additionally, it made the decision to establish Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited as the state’s nodal organization for organizing and carrying out sustainable urban mobility projects.
