Metro rail plan report in 10 months

BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Saturday awarded the contract of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed mass rapid transit system (MRTS) between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar covering a distance of 30 km to a Secundarabad-based agency.
The consultant, Balaji Railroad Systems Limited (BARSYL), will suggest the state government whether to go for metro, mono-rail or light rail system or a combination, a senior government officer said.BARSYL would prepare the DPR in 10 months, he added.
Housing and urban development (H&UD) minister Pushpendra Singhdeo said keeping in mind the future needs of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, MRTS must be planned in advance. "The agency would start work soon. I hope it will come out with the best plan to improve the traffic system between the two cities," he said.
BARSYL was selected as consultant for preparing the DPR through competitive bidding from among six bidders. It will take a consultancy fee of Rs. 2.52 crore for the project, to be financed evenly by the Centre and the state, government sources said.
H&UD special secretary Sisir Kumar Ratho and BARSYL chief executive officer Manoranjan Prasad signed the contract. "MRTS worldwide is meant to provide faster and cleaner transport option. We will come out with a suitable greener plan for faster mobility between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar," Prasad said.