Bhubaneswar: The City will soon have a fully underground metro rail system, replacing the earlier proposal for an elevated corridor.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan confirmed the shift in approach, citing the need to preserve the aesthetic integrity of the city.
“No new alignment has been finalised yet for the proposed metro project. The Housing and Urban Development Department has been tasked with preparing the alignment. Once this is done, groundwork for the underground metro will begin,” the minister stated.
The elevated metro plan has now been officially shelved. “An elevated metro corridor would disrupt the visual harmony of Bhubaneswar. To maintain the city’s beauty, we are moving ahead with an entirely underground metro,” Harichandan explained.
The Housing and Urban Development Department, in collaboration with the Survey Department, will soon commence detailed surveys to determine the most feasible alignment for the underground route. The state government will consider principal approval once the survey work is complete.
