Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday laid the foundation stone for the state’s first metro rail project.

The Rs 6,255.94 crore Metro Rail project will connect Bhubaneswar Biju Patnaik Airport with Trisulia Square near Cuttack, covering a distance of 26km. It will have 20 stations.

Laying the foundation stone, Naveen asked people to work for an empowered and developed Odisha. “This day will remain as a special day in the history of Odisha’s development,” said Naveen.

To lay the foundation stone at Trisulia, Naveen went on a road show starting from Bhubaneswar, waving at people.

“The Odisha government will bear the entire project cost. It will remain one of the flagship projects of the Odisha government in the field of infrastructure development. This is the single largest investment made in any infrastructure project in the history of Odisha,” said Naveen, adding the project symbolises the emergence of a new Odisha.

Naveen also directed the officials to prepare a master plan connecting the metro rail project to Cuttack, Puri and neighbouring Khurda.

As per the schedule, the rail project will be completed within four years. It will be
developed as a world-class urban transport system for the aspirational Odisha.

The central depot of the Metro Rail project will be located near Trisulia Square where the command and control centre as well as the maintenance and stabling facilities for the Metro trains will be constructed.

The Odisha government has roped in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the project. It will be developed as a world-class urban transport system for the aspirational Odisha.