Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra wrote to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Monday, requesting immediate intervention to prevent the state government from scrapping the proposed Metro Rail project initiated by the previous administration.
In his letter, Patra argued that the project, conceptualised under the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, serves as a vital mass-transit backbone for the critical corridor connecting Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khurda, and Puri.
I write to urgently seek your intervention to ensure that the proposed Metro Rail Project in Odisha is not scrapped by the Government of Odisha. Envisioned under the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik ji, the project is a critical mass transit backbone for the Bhubaneswar—Cuttack-Khurda—Puri corridor,” wrote the BJD MP in the letter.
He further alleged that abandoning the Metro Rail project would undermine a meticulously planned infrastructure initiative and deprive the citizens of Odisha of a crucial mobility and economic lifeline.
ଓଡ଼ିଶା ମେଟ୍ରୋ: ଆମ ପ୍ରଗତିର ପଥ ଅବରୁଦ୍ଧ ହେବା ଅନୁଚିତ । ମାନ୍ୟବର ନବୀନ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ ଜୀଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଶିଳାନ୍ୟାସ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏହି ମେଟ୍ରୋ ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପକୁ ବନ୍ଦ ନକରିବା ପାଇଁ ମୁଁ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀଙ୍କୁ ଚିଠି ଲେଖି ଅନୁରୋଧ କରିଛି । ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ବିକାଶ ଧାରାକୁ କେହି ଅଟକାଇ ପାରିବେ ନାହିଁ । 🙏
I have written to the Hon’ble Union… pic.twitter.com/SNR9ePTmlm
— ଡ଼ଃ ସସ୍ମିତ ପାତ୍ର I Dr. Sasmit Patra (@sasmitpatra) April 6, 2026
The senior BJD leader pointed out that since governance is a continuous process, projects of such public importance must be sustained regardless of leadership changes.
He also emphasised that the Metro project, as originally envisioned by the previous BJD government, was intended to be entirely state-funded.
“As the Odisha Government is scrapping the project, your Ministry can ensure its revival as Metro Project development is being governed by the National Urban Transport Policy and the Metro Rail Policy 2017,” noted Patra.
He stated that these policies explicitly provide for a 50:50 Centre–State equity participation model through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), central assistance including Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and policy assurance that states need not abandon metro projects due to fiscal constraints.
“In line with these frameworks, I urge your Ministry to prevail upon the Government of Odisha not to scrap the project; and facilitate its implementation through a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement or equivalent support. This is essential to uphold national policy, ensure continuity in infrastructure development, and protect the long-term interests of the people of Odisha. I request urgent and appropriate action,” urged the senior BJD leader.
These developments follow a decision by the state cabinet, led by Mohan Charan Majhi, to terminate the agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, effectively scrapping the Bhubaneswar metro project.
The cabinet also decided to transform the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Limited into a nodal body responsible for planning and implementing broader sustainable urban mobility initiatives across the state.
