KOLKATA: Metro Railway expects a hike in passenger volume by nearly 50,000 after the north-south network is thrown open till Dakshineswar in July this year. That is the time when Metro plans to resume 300 services. The number of services was reduced in December 2018 after Metro realised that it didn’t have adequate rakes.
Metro Railway general manager Manoj Joshi told TOI that sufficient rakes will be available by July to run all the services.“The Medha rakes from ICF, Chennai, are arriving as scheduled. All issues with these rakes have been resolved. Performance trials of the Dalian rakes are also in progress and should be completed by March. An entire team of technicians from China is camping in Kolkata to study the results of the trials and take necessary measures. We shall have adequate number of rakes by the time the Dakshineswar link is commissioned,” Joshi said.
The run time between Noapara and Dakshineswar will be about eight minutes and officials have calculated that 24 rakes would be required if every second service is to go up to Dakshineswar. Two rakes will be kept on standby. Necessary work is also on at the Noapara yard to allow easier movement of rakes to Dakshineswar. This is necessary as rakes can’t be parked at Dakshineswar.
“We aim to complete work of the Dakshineswar stretch by June. I have asked additional teams of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) officials to oversee the progress of work along that stretch. We realise the problems being faced by people of that area due to the closure of the Tallah Bridge. The Metro link will be a boon for many people who now have to spend a lot of additional time in commuting. Office goers and students will be the most benefitted as they have to reach their destinations on time,” Joshi added.
After taking over, Joshi had also inspected work at the 32-km New Garia-Airport (via Rajarhat) stretch. According to him, the stretch is tricky due to the large number of canals where pillars have to be constructed.
“We are continuously discussing issues with all agencies concerned. We have plans to start truncated services for the nearly 5km stretch between New Garia and Hemanta Mukherjee (Ruby) stations. However, there are three discontinuities in this stretch as well. There is a canal that needs to be spanned. Some land also needs to be acquired. RVNL engineers are working on that stretch to sort out issues,” the Metro GM said. Joshi will also be visiting the Joka-BBD Bag stretch soon and review the progress.
Metro Railway general manager Manoj Joshi told TOI that sufficient rakes will be available by July to run all the services.“The Medha rakes from ICF, Chennai, are arriving as scheduled. All issues with these rakes have been resolved. Performance trials of the Dalian rakes are also in progress and should be completed by March. An entire team of technicians from China is camping in Kolkata to study the results of the trials and take necessary measures. We shall have adequate number of rakes by the time the Dakshineswar link is commissioned,” Joshi said.
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Thousands of citizens will benefit if these projects can gather a little more pace. Together, all the Metro corridors have the potential to change commute as we know it in Kolkata. All government agencies must work together to take advantage of the release of funds and speed up work.
The run time between Noapara and Dakshineswar will be about eight minutes and officials have calculated that 24 rakes would be required if every second service is to go up to Dakshineswar. Two rakes will be kept on standby. Necessary work is also on at the Noapara yard to allow easier movement of rakes to Dakshineswar. This is necessary as rakes can’t be parked at Dakshineswar.
“We aim to complete work of the Dakshineswar stretch by June. I have asked additional teams of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) officials to oversee the progress of work along that stretch. We realise the problems being faced by people of that area due to the closure of the Tallah Bridge. The Metro link will be a boon for many people who now have to spend a lot of additional time in commuting. Office goers and students will be the most benefitted as they have to reach their destinations on time,” Joshi added.
After taking over, Joshi had also inspected work at the 32-km New Garia-Airport (via Rajarhat) stretch. According to him, the stretch is tricky due to the large number of canals where pillars have to be constructed.
“We are continuously discussing issues with all agencies concerned. We have plans to start truncated services for the nearly 5km stretch between New Garia and Hemanta Mukherjee (Ruby) stations. However, there are three discontinuities in this stretch as well. There is a canal that needs to be spanned. Some land also needs to be acquired. RVNL engineers are working on that stretch to sort out issues,” the Metro GM said. Joshi will also be visiting the Joka-BBD Bag stretch soon and review the progress.
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