Bhubaneswar: With the shift of power from the BJD to BJP in Odisha, the much-awaited Bhubaneswar Metro project will not be canceled, informed the Housing & Urban Development Krushna Chandra Mahapatra today.

The Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project will continue to ensure smooth public transport between Twin City Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. If required, the state government will seek assistance from the Centre after reviewing the project, said the minister.

Metro rail is a mega project. There will be a detailed discussion soon on how to speed it up and how the work will go on during the monsoon, he further said.

Worth mentioning, the previous BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik had announced the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project on the occasion of Utkal Dibas (April 1) last year to boost public transportation in the state capital.

The then CM had laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the project at Ratagada near Trisulia in Cuttack on January 1 this year and allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the Vote-on-Account 2024-25.

In the first phase, the project will connect Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar with Trisulia Square. The project will be carried out with an expenditure of Rs 6,255 crore by the state government.

The first phase of the metro rail project will cover 26 km with 20 stations-- Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Capital Hospital, Sishu Bhawan, Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Ram Mandir Square, Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar Square, Jaydev Vihar Square, Xavier Square, Rail Sadan, District Centre, Damana Square, Patia Square, KIIT Square, Nandan Vihar, Raghunathpur, Nanadankanan Zoological Park, Phulapokhari and Trisulia Square.

Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation has signed an MoU with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the project, which is targeted to be completed in four years.