Bhubaneswar, June 8: Odisha Works Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Sunday announced that Bhubaneswar will have an underground metro system instead of the previously proposed elevated system.
The minister stated that the state government is moving ahead with plans for a fully underground metro in Bhubaneswar.
"No new route has been decided yet for the metro project. The Housing and Urban Development Department is responsible for preparing the route plan. Once it's ready, work on the underground metro will begin," the minister said while speaking to reporters.
He also explained that the plan for an elevated metro has been canceled to protect the city's beauty.
"An elevated metro would affect the look of Bhubaneswar. To keep the city’s charm intact, we are planning a fully underground metro," the minister added.
The Housing and Urban Development Department, along with the Survey Department, will soon start the survey for the underground metro route. After the surveys are done, the state government will make a final decision on approving the project.
On the hand, Harichandan also announced that state government will construct new Secretariat and Assembly buildings adding that the plans are still in the conceptual stage.
The Minister highlighted the state's risk of cyclones and emphasized the need to build disaster-resistant buildings in different areas. He also mentioned that the government is closely overseeing the progress of all ongoing and future infrastructure projects to ensure they are completed on time.
Along with the new government buildings, a world-class convention center called 'Odisha Mandap' will be built in Bhubaneswar. The center will have space for up to 10,000 people and will include modern facilities like boardrooms and conference halls. The land for the project has already been identified in Chandrasekharpur, said Harichandan.
