Govt panel to review progress of twin city MRTS project

A high-level panel of the state government headed by chief secretary G C Pati would soon take stock of the progress made in respect of preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) connecting the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The first meeting of this 15-member monitoring cum advisory committee is scheduled to be held on November 5.

The committee's mandate is to review and monitor the progress of preparation of DPR for the MRTS project and also to advice on overall planning, designing and policy matters pertaining to the DPR preparation.

Hyderabad-based Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd (BARSYL) engaged to prepare DPR for the MRTS project, will make a detailed presentation on their preliminary study and detailed roadmap.

The MRTS to cover a distance of approximately 30 km, may become a reality in the next five years.

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.

The state government had inked a pact with BARSYL in August this year for preparing DPR for the project.

The consultant to be paid Rs 2.5 crore for the assignment, would submit the DPR within 10 months of signing of the pact.

The DPR work 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.