Odisha government cancels the Bhubaneswar Metro Project citing low viability, shifts focus to Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Corridor
OdishaPlus Bureau
The government of Odisha has decided to terminate the Bhubaneswar metro rail project. The state cabinet clarified that the project is unlikely to deliver the anticipated benefits and will not attract the expected volume of passengers.
In light of the Cabinet’s decision, the government has also annulled the agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation regarding this initiative.
In the meantime, the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation, which was specifically established for the metro rail project, has been designated as the nodal agency.
The state government indicated that this decision was made based on the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC).
Instead, the state cabinet has prioritized the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip Economic Corridor. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been tasked with providing technical assistance in this regard.
However, before December 2025, the state cabinet had sanctioned an expenditure of Rs 273.51 crore for the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project. The foundation stone for this project was laid during the tenure of the BJD government.
Initially, it was announced that the metro would operate along a 26-km route from Bhubaneswar airport to Trishulia. The work was allocated to various companies through a tendering process. It was determined that the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project would feature an elevated corridor.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was responsible for the design, preparation, and construction supervision of this Metro Rail Project.
