Bhubaneswar: Political war of words over shelving of the Bhubaneswar Metro rail project continued on Thursday, with BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra writing to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi.Patra urged the state govt to revive the ambitious urban transport project by adopting the Jaipur Metro funding model with joint Centre-state participation. He cited the Union Cabinet’s April 8 approval of Jaipur Metro Phase-II, a 41-km project estimated at over Rs 13,000 crore, which would be implemented via a 50:50 Centre-state special purpose vehicle under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017. He said the decision set a clear precedent for structured Centre-state partnerships.Drawing a comparison, the BJD MP pointed out that the Odisha Metro project envisaged along the Puri-Khurda-Bhubaneswar-Cuttack corridor had an approved cost of Rs 6,255 crore in 2024, less than half the size of Jaipur Metro Phase-II.“Under the same model, Odisha Metro would entail a central share of around Rs 3,100 crore and a similar contribution from the state, with the remaining funding through viability gap support or structured financing,” Patra stated.Patra argued that if a project of Jaipur Metro’s scale was found viable with Union govt support, the Odisha Metro should also qualify for similar policy alignment. He cautioned that discontinuing the metro project would weaken a critical long-term mobility and economic backbone for the state.The letter highlighted the anticipated benefits of the Metro corridor, including safer and faster travel, improved access to education and employment for students and youth, better mobility for senior citizens, and enhanced connectivity to tourism destinations such as Puri.It would also help decongest city roads, support small businesses and catalyse economic growth, Patra said. The RS member iterated his appeal for the Odisha govt to reconsider its decision to scrap the metro project and initiate consultations with the Centre to adopt the Jaipur funding framework.The appeal comes days after the state cabinet approved repurposing the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation following the govt’s decision to shelve the Metro plan, citing funding constraints under a fully state-funded model. The move has drawn sharp reactions from the opposition, with BJD leaders accusing the BJP govt of abandoning the Metro.
