BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast Railway (ECoR) wants to pull out of a MoU it had signed with the Odisha government to develop Bhubaneswar railway station into a multi-modal hub, citing delay in execution of the project by Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). Instead, the ECoR has suggested a revised pact so that it can complete the work related to the station, stuck because of the deal.
“I am directed to take out execution of the railway station portion of the project for execution by railways as progress is slow,” ECoR general manager Vidya Bhushan wrote to chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra on Wednesday.
The move comes as a surprise given that Bhushan, after reviewing the project’s progress on July 23, had exuded confidence that work would start within six months. “After finalizing the detailed project estimate, tender will be floated,” he had then said.
On the possibility of a revised MoU, Mohapatra said, “The government will decide soon.” After the government’s formal approval, they (railways) will be asked to develop the railways’ area only, the chief secretary added.
The BDA authorities, however, did not comment on reasons behind the delay. Sources in the state works department said the project got delayed as the government is preoccupied with fighting Covid. Besides, the hub plan is part of the Smart City project, and the government has been facing funding issues in its execution, the source said.
The multi-modal hub is proposed to be re-developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1075 crore with ECoR and BDA supposed to share the expenses. As per the MoU signed on September 19, 2019, BDA was supposed to execute the complete project — two additional railway lines, new terminal building, city bus terminal, a shopping complex, restaurant, parking and other facilities. Detailed project report and plan for construction had already been done.
