Bhubaneswar, Jan 1: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for Bhubaneswar Metro Phase-1 project, the State’s first metro rail project, on Monday on the occasion of New Year 2024. 

The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the first phase stretch of the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) to Trisulia Square at Barang Ratagarh Lenka Sahi.

Before laying the foundation stone, Patnaik held a 26-km roadshow from the Airport square to Trisulia in the State Capital.

"Today (Jan 1, 2024) will remain in the history of Odisha's development. As promised earlier, we are laying the foundation stone of the metro rail project", the Chief Minister said.

The project will have 20 stations covering 26 km from Bhubaneswar airport to Trishulia. The Chief Minister said that he has asked for the preparation of a master plan for the extension of metro rail to Khordha, Puri and Cuttack.

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The project will be carried out with an expenditure of Rs 6,255 crore by the State government, sources said.

5T Chairman VK Pandian, Minister for Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department Ashok Chandra Panda, Agriculture Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Usha Devi,  Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochona Das were, among others, present at the foundation laying ceremony.