MRTS travel in state likely in five years

Realising the need for high speed metro rail system in the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack region, the state government today signed a pact with Hyderabad-based rail consulting firm Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd (BARSYL).

BARSYL has been roped in a consultant to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) connecting the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The consultant will be paid Rs 2.5 crore for the DPR likely to be submitted in 10 months. The MRT,S to cover a distance of approximately 30 km, may become a reality in the next five years.

"Actual cost of the project can be known only after preparation of the DPR," said Manoranjan Pershad, chief operating officer, BARSYL, who signed the pact with Sisir Kumar Ratho, special secretary, housing & urban development (Odisha).

The government of India will bear 50 per cent of the project cost under 'Urban Transport Planning Scheme'. The rest 50 per cent will be contributed by the Odisha government. "BARSYL has been selected after a transparent and competitive bidding process. An MRTS linking the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has become imperative given the growth in traffic," said Housing & Urban Development minister, Pushpendra Singhdeo.

G Mathivathanan, secretary, Housing & Urban Development, said, "An MRTS system linking the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has become imperative. Bhubaneswar alone has a huge requirement for MRTS. The scope of work under DPR includes traffic demand assessment, mobility analysis, system selection, cost estimation and funding pattern."

"In the first phase of our work, we will focus broadly on areas like traffic demand assessment and identification of suitable alignments," said B Ramana Rao Naidu, chief technical officer & head (urban transit), BARSYL. "Our objective is to suggest a world class MRTS that is technically suitable and financially viable," he added. The DPR work also involves selection of final assignments, engineering surveys, selection of suitable track structure, suggestions for traction system and power supply, undertaking financial and sensitivity analysis, preparation of environment management plan (EMP) and working out an implementation strategy. In August last year, the state government had mooted a monorail transit system for the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Monorail system is a technological innovation entailing many advantages for optimum flow of passengers. It provides a smooth ride quality, higher passenger capacity, energy efficiency, lower capital and operating costs and environment friendly transport needs. The construction cost of the monorail system is pegged at Rs 150 crore per km.