Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 1 conducted a roadshow on occasion of laying foundation stone for State’s first metro rail project connecting Bhubaneswar and Cuttack – apparently commencing the electioneering in the election year.
Execution of the 26-km-long metro rail link for which an estimated ₹6,255.94 crore will be spent was fast-paced enabling the State government to start working on the project before election codes of conduct restrictions come into force ahead of 2024 Assembly and General elections.
The metro rail project was first mooted on October 29 last year when V. K. Pandian, chairman of 5T Initiative, made a spot visit along with other top officials to asses feasibility of the project. Subsequently, in next four months approval of the State Cabinet was obtained and the detail project report was prepared at a breakneck speed. Entire fund to be spent on the project will be borne by the State government.
