Bhubaneswar, April 7: Senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra wrote to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, on Monday, requesting immediate intervention. He urged that the proposed metro rail project initiated during the previous government should not be canceled by the state government.
In his letter, Patra emphasized that this metro project, developed under the leadership of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is crucial for the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Khurda-Puri corridor’s public transport system.
He stated, “I urge you not to allow the Odisha government to cancel the proposed metro rail project. This initiative is vital for the transportation infrastructure in the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Khurda-Puri area.”
Patra alleged that canceling this metro project would damage a well-structured infrastructure plan, depriving the people of Odisha of improved transport and economic opportunities.
He noted that while governments may change, development projects must continue as they serve the public interest.
Additionally, he highlighted that this metro project was entirely funded by the state government during the previous administration.
Patra mentioned that if the Odisha government decides to halt this project, the central government could revive it, as metro projects fall under the National Urban Transport Policy and the Metro Rail Policy of 2017.
He pointed out that these policies include provisions for a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement between the center and the state, along with financial assistance from the center, ensuring projects are not halted due to economic difficulties.
Notably, the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Chara Majhi, decided on Saturday to terminate the agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, leading to the cancellation of the Bhubaneswar metro project.
Furthermore, it was decided to establish the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited as a nodal agency for planning and implementing urban transport schemes in the state.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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