Defence bottleneck holds up Joka-BBD Bag Metro project

Despite getting a nod of “working permission” on Defence land for the Joka-BBD Bag Metro project, the work cannot be started in full swing as the request for a plot at Command Hospital to built Mominpur Metro station has been turned down. 

In a message conveyed to the Ministry of Railways (MoR), no land at Command Hospital for construction of overhead Metro station at Mominpur will be transferred to the MoR. The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has also been suggested to make alternate arrangements for the station.  

There is a requirement of around 2,500 sq metre of land to construct the Metro station and a portion of land at Command Hospital was found to be suitable for the station. Permission was also sought from the MoD in this regard besides seeking working permission on Defence land at some places for the project.

In case the Metro station didn’t come up, next station after Kidderpore will be Majherhaat. The distance between Kidderpore and Majerhaat stations is around 2.7 km. Moreover, the peak hour traffic in the area is around 20,000. Thus it is not prudent to extend the Metro connectivity without Mominpur station.

However, the “working permission” on three different Defence plots has been granted to the MoR. Permission for the work at Command Hospital for widening of Diamond Harbour Road has been granted. 

The other places for which the permission has been granted are Turf View, Race Course and Maidan Area.  

The project work at Turf View and Race Course will be undertaken for two 1,450 metre long tunnels of 5.4 metre diameter each. 

The work at Maidan will be carried out to construct underground Metro stations near Victoria Memorial, Park Street and Esplanade. Tunneling to connect the stations will also be done. 

The “working permission” is granted on the basis of certain conditions. The MoR has to transfer suitable land of “equal value” to MoD.

Moreover, MoR needs to take prior permission from the Calcutta High Court, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Forest and Environment to use the land at Maidan area.       

It has also been mentioned in the letter that MoR also have to take necessary steps for security of the Defence establishments in the vicinity.