Bhubaneswar: The city railway station users would have a completely different experience once the station metamorphosed into an international railway terminal.
The state government has engaged Singapore- based M/s Subama Jurong, an internationally reputed consultant firm, to upgrade and modernize the Bhubaneswar railway station. The firm has given a design to connect both sides of the station through a very wide concourse. This will involve construction over the platform and the railway lines.
“Once completed, it will give a new experience to the passengers”, said the Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Patnaik, in letter to the union railway minister, Piyush Goel, has stated that the state government has already offered to develop a modern railway station building with international class passenger amenities in the capital city of Bhubaneswar. As already agreed, the modern station facility is planned to be built on land belonging to state government and is already designed as a multi modal hub which will be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding Smart City development.
The state government and the railway ministry are going to sign a MoU for the purpose very soon. The union minister has invited the chief minister Naveen Patnaik to sign the MoU in New Delhi on May 23. In reply, Patnaik has stated that the proposed inking of the MoU would be held at Bhubaneswar on a mutually convenient date.
The MoU that was to be signed on 20th January 2018 envisaged taking up of the project in two phases. As the same could not be signed and the project has already been delayed considerably, it is proposed by the state government that whole project may be taken in one phase.
“Accordingly, the state government has moved for signing of revised MoU, which may be expeditiously approved by the Railways,” Patnaik said in the letter. “As the project is of immense importance to the citizens of the city for which the state government is committed to fully bear the expenses for development of a modern and world-class station, I would, therefore, like to propose that the MoU may be signed at Bhubaneswar on a mutually convenient date,” he added.
