Bhubaneswar Metro Project Under Review, DPR Scrapped

Key Facts

• Odisha’s Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra confirmed in the State Assembly that the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Metro Rail project is not cancelled, but currently under review by an inter-ministerial committee.
• So far, ₹277.36 crore has been spent, including ₹252.05 crore released since June 12, 2024.
• Earlier, on August 13, 2025, the Odisha government announced it would scrap the previous 26 km DPR and form a new technical committee to draft a fresh metro plan with support from the Centre.

Background

The metro project, first announced in September 2023, was designed as a 26 km elevated corridor connecting Biju Patnaik International Airport (Bhubaneswar) to Trisulia Square (Cuttack) with 20 stations.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was engaged as general consultant under the original DPR. However, integration issues with existing roads, funding pressures, and delayed groundwork forced the state to revisit the project with a more feasible plan.

Official Statements

• Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Housing and Urban Development Minister: “An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been constituted to examine the project in detail. A final decision will be taken only after the committee submits its report and recommendations.”
• On plan redesign: “We will form a technical committee including the H&UD secretary, engineers, and experts to develop a comprehensive plan… Public opinion will be sought before finalising the blueprint.”
• He also emphasised that Centre support will be sought to ensure smooth execution.

Reactions

• Urban planners: Supported the expert-led redesign but flagged concerns over worsening traffic congestion in Bhubaneswar–Cuttack due to delays.
• Business groups: The Odisha chapter of CII warned that prolonged uncertainty could deter private investment in real estate and transit-linked projects.
• DMRC officials: Endorsed a fresh DPR but urged adoption of best practices from metros in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad to avoid escalating costs.

Impact

• Economic: Delay in construction has stalled large-scale spending, job creation, and contracts for suppliers of cement, steel, and signalling systems.
• Political: Opposition parties allege poor planning and mismanagement, while the ruling BJD defends the review as a step toward “a robust, feasible plan.”
• Social: Road congestion and the lack of reliable public transport continue to frustrate commuters in the rapidly urbanising Bhubaneswar–Cuttack corridor.

Global/Geopolitical Angle

Though state-driven, the project’s redesign reflects India’s broader challenge of aligning urban growth with sustainable transit solutions. The outcome may draw attention from international infrastructure investors and multilateral funding agencies that have shown interest in India’s urban mobility projects.