| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Government of Odisha |
| Locale | Bhubaneswar–Cuttack metropolitan area, Odisha |
| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 1 (Planned, suspended) |
| Line number |
|
| Number of stations | 20 (Planned) |
| Key people | Kalyan Pattnaik (IRSEE) (CEO) Krushna Chandra Mahapatra (Minister, H&UD) |
| Headquarters | Unnati Bhawan, Satya Nagar, Bhubaneswar |
| Website | www |
| Operation | |
| Operator(s) | Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) |
| Number of vehicles | 3-coach train sets (Planned) |
| Train length | 60 metres (approx.) |
| Technical | |
| System length | 26.024 km (16.171 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Template:25 kV 50 Hz overhead catenary |
| Average speed | 35 km/h (22 mph) (Projected) |
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) (Projected) |
The Bhubaneswar Metro is a suspended rapid transit system intended to serve the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in the Indian state of Odisha. Initially conceptualized to mitigate urban congestion within the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack metropolitan area, the project entered the active implementation stage in 2024 before being placed on hold by the state government in April 2026.
The first phase was designed as an entirely elevated corridor spanning 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Biju Patnaik International Airport to Trisulia Square. Following a 2026 administrative review, the project was suspended in favor of an integrated regional mobility framework known as the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Corridor.
History[edit | edit source]
Background and Early Proposals (2010–2017)[edit | edit source]
The proposal for a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) for the twin cities was first officially explored in July 2010, when the state transport department engaged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for a preliminary feasibility study.[1] In 2013, E. Sreedharan, then principal advisor to DMRC, suggested that Bhubaneswar lacked the population density (threshold of 2 million) required for a viable metro system, recommending a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) instead.[2]
Approval and Phase 1 Implementation (2023–2025)[edit | edit source]
The project was formally approved on 1 April 2023 (Utkala Dibasa). The DMRC was subsequently appointed as the consultant for Phase 1, with a budget of ₹6,255 crore entirely funded by the Government of Odisha. The foundation stone was laid near Trisulia in early 2024. By late 2025, civil works including boundary wall construction for the Trisulia depot and geotechnical surveys had commenced, with an expenditure of approximately ₹273.51 crore.
2026 Suspension and Policy Shift[edit | edit source]
On 7 April 2026, the newly inaugurated state cabinet announced the suspension of the current Phase 1 alignment and the termination of the consultancy agreement with the DMRC. The government cited concerns regarding financial sustainability, projected operational losses, and the need to align with the revised **National Metro Rail Policy of 2026**.
The Housing and Urban Development Department stated that the standalone metro would be replaced by a broader regional transit framework connecting Puri and Paradip, potentially utilizing RRTS technology or an upgraded Metro Neo system to ensure better cost-to-ridership ratios.
Network[edit | edit source]
Phase 1 (Under Review)[edit | edit source]
The original Phase 1 network consisted of a single elevated corridor designated as **Line 1**.
| No. | Line | Stations | Length (km) | Terminals | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | style="background:#Template:Rcr; color:white;" | Line 1 | 20 | 26.024 | Biju Patnaik International Airport | Trisulia Square (Cuttack) | Suspended |
Planned stations included major commercial and institutional nodes such as Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Vani Vihar, Jaydev Vihar, and KIIT Square.
Future Expansion (Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri-Paradip)[edit | edit source]
Following the 2026 policy shift, a regional network is being planned to replace the standalone urban metro.
| Proposed Regional Economic Corridor (2026 Framework) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Route | Stations | Length (km) | Mode | Status | ||
| 1 | Bhubaneswar – Cuttack (Trisulia) | 20 | 26 | RRTS / Metro Neo | Under Review | ||
| 2 | Bhubaneswar – Puri | 8 | 62 | High-speed Rail | Proposed | ||
| 3 | Bhubaneswar – Khurda Road | 6 | 28 | Rapid Transit | Proposed | ||
| 4 | Cuttack – Paradip | 12 | 85 | Regional Rail | Planned | ||
Infrastructure[edit | edit source]
Rolling Stock[edit | edit source]
The initial DPR proposed 3-coach stainless steel train sets with a carrying capacity of approximately 900 passengers. Following the suspension, the government is exploring lighter rolling stock (Metro Neo) to reduce capital expenditure by an estimated 40%.
Depots[edit | edit source]
A major depot was under construction at Trisulia, covering 20 hectares. Construction was halted in April 2026. The site is currently being maintained by BMRCL pending a final decision on its conversion into a multi-modal regional transport hub.
Construction Incidents[edit | edit source]
During the preliminary piling works in late 2025 near Patia Square, a minor soil subsidence incident occurred, leading to the temporary closure of one flank of the Nandankanan Road. No injuries were reported, but the incident led to a safety audit of the geotechnical data provided in the 2023 DPR.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Urban rail transit in India
- List of rapid transit systems in India
- Capital Region Urban Transport
- Bhubaneswar–Cuttack metropolitan area
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Metro track for twin cities on anvil". The Telegraph (India). 28 July 2010.
- ↑ "Bhubaneswar not yet ready for metro rail: Sreedharan". Business Standard. 8 January 2013.
External links[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
Early proposals and feasibility studies (2010–2017)[edit | edit source]
The proposal for a rapid transit system to connect the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack was first initiated on 27 July 2010, when the state transport department engaged the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to conduct a preliminary survey.[1] However, on 8 January 2013, E. Sreedharan, then principal advisor to the DMRC, advised against a metro system for Bhubaneswar, noting that the city's population had not yet reached the 2 million threshold typically required for such projects. He instead recommended investment in a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) or a high-speed tramway.[2] Despite these reservations, local advocacy groups, including the Cuttack Banchao Committee led by Subhash Chandra Singh, petitioned the state to reconsider, citing long-term population growth and the region's emerging status as a hub for health, sports, and technology. Alternative transit models were briefly considered; in January 2013, Engineering Projects India Ltd. proposed a monorail project.[3] On 23 August 2014, the state government signed a ₹2.52 crore contract with Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd. (BARSYL) to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a 30 km mass rapid transit system (MRTS).[4] However, by February 2017, the state government maintained that a metro system was not immediately feasible and prioritized a bus-based urban transport network.[5]
Project approval and implementation (2018–2024)[edit | edit source]
The project regained political momentum in January 2018 when the Chief Minister of Odisha formally demanded federal support for metro connectivity between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.[6] This was followed by a 2019 declaration by the Governor of Odisha affirming the state's intent to connect the "Silver City" (Cuttack) with the "Smart City" (Bhubaneswar) via a metro link.[7] On 1 April 2023, the state government officially approved a metro service encompassing Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khordha, and Puri. The project was designated as entirely state-funded.[8] In August 2023, the DMRC was re-engaged to prepare a comprehensive DPR, including traffic surveys, topographic studies, and environmental impact assessments. The resulting report was subsequently submitted to the Chief Secretary. The foundation stone for Phase 1 was laid in early 2024, focusing on a route connecting major healthcare and educational institutions with the city’s central railway station.
2026 suspension and policy shift[edit | edit source]
By the end of 2025, approximately ₹273.51 crore had been expended on initial groundwork and the development of a depot at Trisulia. However, on 7 April 2026, the newly inaugurated state government announced the termination of the Phase 1 plan. The Housing and Urban Development Minister stated that the project would undergo a "futuristic makeover" to align with the revised 2026 National Metro Rail Policy. The suspension was attributed to a shift toward an integrated regional transport framework, focusing on the broader Bhubaneswar–Cuttack–Puri–Paradip Economic Corridor rather than a standalone metro line. While Phase 1 as originally envisioned was halted, the government maintained that the project remains part of long-term urban planning under a revised mobility scheme.
Route network[edit | edit source]
Phase 1[edit | edit source]
In Phase 1, 20 metro stations may or may not be built on the Line 1 from Trisulia to Biju Patnaik Airport, including Capital Hospital, Sishu Bhawan, Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Ram Mandir Square, Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar Square, Jaydev Vihar Square, Xavier Square, Rail Sadan, District Centre, Damana Square, Patia Square, KIIT Square, Nandan Vihar, Raghunathpur, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Barang Station and Phulapokhari.[9] which would be further extended to Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal in future expansion.
| Phase 1 Network | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Line Name | Stations | Length (km) |
Terminals | Opening Date | |
| 1 | Line 1 | 20 | 26.024 km (16.171 mi) | Trisulia (Cuttack) | Biju Patnaik Airport (Bhubaneswar) | TBD |
Timeline[edit | edit source]
- April 2023: Metro project announced for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, and Puri. First metro trunk route proposed, connecting Trisulia near Cuttack to Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.[10][11]
- May 2023: DPR at last stage of preparation. Government announces that metro construction will start by December 2023.
- July 2023: BMRCL in cooperation with DMRC said the soil testing for Bhubaneswar metro would be commenced soon. In the first phase, soil testing will take place between Trisulia and Nandankanan and then the testing will be done till Airport. Soil will be tested every 1 km and digging of 30 m pits maybe required to check the natural and bedrock of soil.
- August 2023: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was engaged with the responsibility of preparing the DPR. After conducting traffic survey, geo-technical investigation, topo-graphic survey, environmental & social impact assessments, DMRC completed the DPR preparation and submitted to Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena. A total of 20 stations on a route of 26 kilometers will be constructed, i.e. Biju Patnaik Airport, Capital Hospital, Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Ram Mandir Square, Vani Vihar, Acharya Vihar, Jaydev Vihar Square, Xavier Square, Rail Sadan, District Centre, Damana Square, Patia Square, KIIT Square, Nandan Vihar, Raghunathpur, Nandankanan Zoological Park, Barang Station, Phulapokhari and Trisulia Square in Cuttack.
- October 2023: Odisha Chief Minister has approved DPR of the metro project.
- January 2024: Chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, inaugurated foundation stone of the project on new year.[12]
- March 2024: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation floated tenders for all 19 elevated metro stations.[13]
- March 2025: Odisha State Housing and Urban Development Minister announces Metro Rail project extension upto Cuttack city.[14]
- July 2025: Odisha's BJP Government scrapped the tender with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation due to viability concerns.[15]
- April 2026: On 5 April, the Odisha Government scrapped the Metro project citing feasibility challenges from non-compliance with the 2017 National Metro Rail Policy with respect to below-threshold traffic demand and low ridership projections.[16] Although a week later on 10 April, the Odisha State Housing and Urban Development Minister said the Government has put the project on hold indefinitely until the formulation of a comprehensive mobility plan for the capital region.[17]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Metro track for twin cities on anvil". The Telegraph (India). 28 July 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Bhubaneswar not yet ready for metro rail: Sreedharan". Business Standard. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ "Odisha plans Monorail transit system for Cuttack and Bhubaneswar". The Economic Times. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "MRTS travel in state likely in five years". Business Standard. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ "Bhubaneswar Pitches For Bus Based Urban Transport System". BW SC. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ↑ "Odisha CM demands Metro rail lines for Cuttack-Bhubaneswar". Kalingatv.com, 17 January 2018.
- ↑ "Bhubaneswar-Cuttack to get Metro rail connectivity". Odisha TV. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ↑ "Odisha CM announces metro project for capital on statehood day". The New Indian Express. 1 April 2023.
- ↑ "DMRC prepares DPR for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project, submits to Odisha government". Asian News International. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ↑ "Odisha CM announces first metro trunk route for State". The Hindu. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ↑ "Odisha CM announces metro rail project connecting Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Khurda". The Economic Times. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ↑ "Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik lays foundation stone of ₹6,225 crore Bhubaneswar Metro project". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ↑ "DMRC floats tenders for 19 elevated metro stations in Bhubaneswar". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ↑ "Cuttack city to be included in metro rail project: Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ↑ "Odisha govt scraps Bhubaneswar Metro tender, cites viability concerns". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ "Metro project scrapped; BMRC to get new avatar". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bhubaneswar metro rail not scrapped, put on hold, says H&UD minister". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
| Suburban rail |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid transit |
| ||||||||
| Monorail |
| ||||||||
| Metrolite |
| ||||||||
| Tram |
| ||||||||
