While most of the States in the country are going ahead with setting up of Metro Rails, the Odisha Government is dragging its feet, thanks to indecision at the Government level.
Way back in 2013, the Union Ministry of Urban Development had approved the proposal for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), popularly known as Metro Rails for Bhubaneswar-Cuttack urban complex.
Metro is a cheap mode of travel, which helps in reducing the energy consumption, is eco-friendly and is the reason behind the prevention of accidents.
However, after five long years, the Metro Rails project is yet to see light of the day and nobody knows as to when the project will come through and allow the people of the Twin City to enjoy Metro Rails drive.
This has resulted in steep rise of private vehicles thereby leading to congestion and clogging in downtown areas of the city.
Twin City of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has been recording highest number of accidents on road and fatalities are high in number, which a serious cause of concern.
After the Union Ministry Urban Development approved “MRTS” for Odisha, which was to cover Bhubaneswar-Barang-Cuttack-Chaudwar, the State Government set up a State level Monitoring and Advisory Committee for regular monitoring and successful implementation of the ambitious project.
While Bhubaneswar is groomed as Smart City, the most effective facilitator for the city and the urban zones is an integrated public transport system with proposed MRTS at the core of the framework.
It is expected that by 2030, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack urban complex will have population of 42 lakh, which was 15.8 lakh in 2001.
While existing railway network is not passing through the central business district of Twin City, Metro Rails would have served the purpose very well.
After receiving the “In Principle” approval, a national consultant ‘Barsyl’ was roped in to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
To start with in the first phase, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack would have been connected and later, it was to be extended to Khurda.
New international airport will be coming up near Khurda and Metro connectivity to the proposed airport would have served a lot of purpose.
After receiving the DPR, authorities are taking to study it for years, which is a matter of concern, said a former Secretary, Urban Development, who was instrumental in pursuing MRTS concept in the State Government.
In the country, MRTS projects have been implemented in at least 10 cities as like Odisha these States have received ‘In principle’ approval and later have been able to implement the Metro Rails.
Setting up of MRTS in Twin City will provide sustainable and cost effective public transport between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and it will meet a growing population of 42 lakh by 2030, said a senior urban planner.