Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones for two key projects in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack via video link from Pahadpur on Saturday. The projects include a 300-metric tonne per day compressed biogas (CBG) plant to be set up by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) at Meherpali, and a bridge over the Kathajodi River in Cuttack.
Bridge to Ease Traffic Congestion
The proposed bridge is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion for commuters traveling between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. The structure will connect Trisulia with the Judicial Academy area near Bellevue Square, providing an additional route across the Kathajodi River. Officials stated that the bridge will alleviate pressure on existing routes and improve daily commuting for thousands of residents.
The state cabinet approved the plan in April. The project, estimated to cost Rs 158.88 crore, is slated for completion within three years. Besides easing traffic, it is expected to boost economic activity in the region.
CBG Plant for Waste Management
The compressed biogas plant aims to drastically reduce the waste load on the city's Temporary Transfer Station (TTS) and Micro Composting Centres (MCC), a BMC official explained. The TTS currently handles around 470 tonnes of waste daily, while MCCs convert waste into manure. Reducing the waste load on the TTS will eliminate exposed waste, which often causes odor issues in nearby localities, the official added.
The project will be developed in collaboration with Oil India Limited as part of a broader initiative to build sustainable waste-to-energy infrastructure in urban centers. “The facility would significantly improve waste handling in the city. The operationalisation of the CBG plant will drastically reduce waste load on the TTS, paving the way for zero exposed waste,” a BMC officer said.
Officials noted that the plant will be built on approximately 10 acres and is expected to produce about 13 tonnes of biogas per day, along with organic manure and refuse-derived fuel (RDF). Bhubaneswar currently generates around 800 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, including wet and dry waste. Of this, MCCs process about 100 tonnes of wet waste daily, while Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) handle around 120 tonnes of dry waste.
