Dharmendra slams Odisha Govt over metro project

Bhubaneswar: Taking a dig at the BJD government in Odisha over the proposed metro project, senior BJP leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday claimed that the state is yet to take appropriate steps for its implementation.

Dharmendra, who attended an event along with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Bhubaneswar, said that the metro rail project needs to be implemented through proper collaboration between the state and the Centre.

The project should be implemented in close coordination between the state and the Centre and through joint effort, the Union Minister said.

Stating that metro projects are being implemented in several states, Dharmendra said the projects are being taken up through joint efforts with the Centre.

However, the Odisha government has not held any discussion with the Centre regarding the proposed metro rail project between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to begin with, he said.

A project of this nature cannot be implemented merely by the visit of four to five government officers to proposed sites and clicking of pictures, the senior BJP leader said, adding that it is not enough to initiate steps for soil testing.

Hitting out at the state government, the Union Minister also drew of the attention of BJD MLA Anant Narayan Jena to waterlogging in front of Bhubaneswar railway station where major redevelopment work is underway.

Reacting sharply to Dharmendra’s remarks, BJD legislator Jena said work for the metro project has already begun and everything is moving in the right direction.

It may be noted here that the preliminary work on the proposed Bhubaneswar-Cuttack metro project has begun with geotechnical investigation by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) near Trisulia and Nandankanan Road here.

A team of engineers and experts from DMRC examined the condition of the surface of the land and 30 feet below to ascertain the nature of the soil and rock deposits in the area. It also examined presence of water under the land. The Odisha Rail Infrastructure Development Limited (ORIDL) will be executing the project. On the basis of these investigations, the DMRC will prepare a detailed project report (DPR).