: Friday, April 10, 2026 11:04 AM
Bhubaneswar. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi has written a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to rethink his recent decision to stop the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project. In the letter, Aparajita Sarangi said that Bhubaneswar has currently reached a ‘tipping point’. Rapid urbanization, increasing population and ever-increasing traffic jams have put immense pressure on the city’s existing transportation system. He said, “Our city is changing rapidly. Traffic problems are increasing and people are feeling the need for better, sustainable and modern transport. Now the time has come for us to adopt a strong and modern public transport system.”
Describing Metro Rail as the best and long-term solution, Sarangi said that it will benefit not only Bhubaneswar but also the surrounding areas (Cuttack, Jatani and Khurda). He said that the metro service will provide safe and easy travel facilities to senior citizens, women, children, students, working people, businessmen and disabled people.
The BJP MP warned that if the project was stopped, it would have a direct impact on employment, economic growth and planned urban development. Sarangi wrote, “Stopping the Metro project means losing opportunities for new employment opportunities, economic activities and overall development of the city. This is not just a transport project, but an important step towards making Bhubaneswar a smart and modern city.”
Aparajita Sarangi also presented many important figures and arguments in her letter. He said the combined population of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Khurda justifies the need for the metro project. Also, metro connectivity will ease access to major tourist destinations like Lingaraj Temple, Dhauli and Nandankanan Zoological Park, thereby boosting tourism.
The BJP MP also pointed out that the project is in line with the goal of making Odisha an attractive and future-ready state for investment. Till now, more than Rs 274 crore has been spent on this and if it is postponed then the cost may increase by two to four times in the future. He also clarified that metro projects across the country are run on subsidy basis and are not designed to make quick profits.
He said that metro service is operational in 18 cities of the country, construction is going on in 16 cities and work is going on at the planning stage in 12 cities, which also includes many tier-II cities.
Sarangi appealed to the Chief Minister to reconsider the cabinet decision taken on April 4. He also assured to establish coordination with central government departments and provide help in funding.
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Web Title-Aparajita Sarangi Appeals to CM Majhi: Reconsider Decision to Halt Metro Project
