Let MoU on BBSR rly station be signed in city

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, replying to a letter of Railways Minister Piyush Goyal pertaining to signing of an MoU for development of the Bhubaneswar railway station, has proposed for inking of the agreement in Bhubaneswar on a mutually-convenient date.

Goyal in a letter had earlier invited Patnaik for signing of the MoU in New Delhi on May 23 for upgradation of the facilities and amenities at the Bhubaneswar station.

Patnaik in reply has said, “As you are aware, 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 the State Government and is already designed as a multimodal hub which will be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding Smart City development.”

“The State Government has already engaged M/s Subama Jurong, Singapore, a design firm of international repute, for this purpose.

One of the defining features of the proposed plan is to connect both sides of the railway station through a very wide concourse for giving a complete new experience to the passengers. This will involve construction over the platforms and railway lines,” the letter has stated.

“The MoU that was to be signed on 20.01.2018 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 the whole project may be taken in one phase. Accordingly, the State Government has moved for signing of a revised MoU, which may be expeditiously approved by the Railways,” Patnaik has said.

“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,” the concluded.