Odisha Unveils Ambitious Underground Metro Rail Project for Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: In a significant push towards modern urban mobility, the Odisha government has announced plans for a fully underground metro rail system in Bhubaneswar aimed at enhancing city connectivity and easing traffic congestion in the rapidly expanding state capital.

Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan shared details of the project with reporters on Sunday, describing it as part of a broader initiative to transform Bhubaneswar’s urban infrastructure. The proposed metro corridor will connect Patia to the new CRP Road, with the entire alignment running underground. The project is targeted for completion by the end of 2025.

“The alignment of the metro rail system will be fully underground in Bhubaneswar. The Chief Minister has ordered the department concerned in this regard and the department has already started its work,” Minister Harichandan said.

The underground metro system is expected to significantly decongest key traffic corridors and enhance public transport accessibility, particularly in high-density areas of the city.

In addition to the metro project, the Minister announced that a new ring road encircling Bhubaneswar will be developed by 2027 to further improve intra-city and regional connectivity. The plan includes the creation of inner and outer ring roads designed to ensure systematic and simultaneous growth of the capital.

The outer ring road will connect key suburban and satellite towns including Khurda, Janti, and Trisulia, while a Capital Region Ring Road is also in the pipeline to integrate urban expansion with transit planning.