KOLKATA: Railway officials said they would have been relieved had finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned Metro projects in Kolkata even once during her Budget speech.
“All the Metro projects in Kolkata are overdue. Neither lack of funds nor the railways is to blame for the delay, but a mention would have shown the Centre’s intent to complete them at the earliest,” a railway official said. “Bengaluru people must have felt happy when Sitharaman mentioned the Rs 18,600-crore 148km-long suburban transport project, which is important to decongest the southern city. Metro projects here are essential for faster commute. We will have to wait till Wednesday for details on the projects.”
Kolkata has five ongoing projects, two of which are nearing completion. The Metro link, which is expected to complete first is between Noapara and Dakshineswar, which will add the northern suburbs to the existing network. It will be a boon for thousands of people living in Dakshineswar, Baranagar and the Dunlop crossing, already suffering due to the closure of the Tallah Bridge. The airport link from Noapara is also nearing completion and work is in full swing for the underground yard at the Kolkata airport that promises to be the largest in the country. The airport route will be a stepping stone for the Metro’s progress towards Barasat.
“Phase-I of the East-West Metro between Sector V and Salt Lake stadium is ready and awaiting inauguration. We had expected a mention of it in the Budget speech. The cost for Phase-II between Salt Lake stadium and Howrah Maidan has also gone up due to subsidence at Bowbazar. We are waiting to see how much is allocated for the E-W Metro this year as expenses are likely to be more in 2020-21. Work for the New Garia-Airport stretch is progressing at a good pace now,” another official said.
The Joka-BBD Bag link is probably the most worrisome. Thanks to delay in land acquisition, it has not seen as much progress as it should have in the 10-odd years after its foundation was laid. The biggest hurdle for the project is non-availability of land for the Joka carshed and encroachments along the way. While 85% of the land has been acquired for the depot, work can’t start till the rest 15% are available.
“All the Metro projects in Kolkata are overdue. Neither lack of funds nor the railways is to blame for the delay, but a mention would have shown the Centre’s intent to complete them at the earliest,” a railway official said. “Bengaluru people must have felt happy when Sitharaman mentioned the Rs 18,600-crore 148km-long suburban transport project, which is important to decongest the southern city. Metro projects here are essential for faster commute. We will have to wait till Wednesday for details on the projects.”
Kolkata has five ongoing projects, two of which are nearing completion. The Metro link, which is expected to complete first is between Noapara and Dakshineswar, which will add the northern suburbs to the existing network. It will be a boon for thousands of people living in Dakshineswar, Baranagar and the Dunlop crossing, already suffering due to the closure of the Tallah Bridge. The airport link from Noapara is also nearing completion and work is in full swing for the underground yard at the Kolkata airport that promises to be the largest in the country. The airport route will be a stepping stone for the Metro’s progress towards Barasat.
“Phase-I of the East-West Metro between Sector V and Salt Lake stadium is ready and awaiting inauguration. We had expected a mention of it in the Budget speech. The cost for Phase-II between Salt Lake stadium and Howrah Maidan has also gone up due to subsidence at Bowbazar. We are waiting to see how much is allocated for the E-W Metro this year as expenses are likely to be more in 2020-21. Work for the New Garia-Airport stretch is progressing at a good pace now,” another official said.
The Joka-BBD Bag link is probably the most worrisome. Thanks to delay in land acquisition, it has not seen as much progress as it should have in the 10-odd years after its foundation was laid. The biggest hurdle for the project is non-availability of land for the Joka carshed and encroachments along the way. While 85% of the land has been acquired for the depot, work can’t start till the rest 15% are available.
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