Kolkata Metro extension projects may see light of day by end of 2019

Kolkata: If things go as planned and on schedule, most of the works in progress on six Kolkata Metro extension projects will be completed by the end of 2019, said the new Kolkata Metro General Manager Ajay Vijayvargiya.

Of the six projects involving additional 99.3 km at a sanctioned cost of Rs 21,811.52 crore, the Kavi Subhas-Hemanta Mukherjee (5.3 km) (Ph1) and

Hemanta Mukherjee-Salt Lake Sector V (10 km) of the Kavi Subhas-Airport Corridor have been targeted for completion by June 2019 and December 2019 respectively, Vijayvargiya told the CII Conference on Doing Business with Indian Railways organised by CII here on Monday.

"The Noapara-Baranagar-Dakshinesdwar (3.93 km) stretch is supposed to be completed in June 2019, while the scheduled completion of the Joka-Majherhat (9 km) stretch by December 2019. The Noapara-Jessore Road (5.3 km) of the Noapara-Airport-Barasat project has been targeted for completion by 2019," he said.

"The 16.55 km East-West (of which 5.74 km is elevated and 10.808 km is underground) project is one of the most challenging tasks," Mr Vijayvargiya said, adding that the 6-km stretch Sector V-Phulbagan of this project will be completed in June next year.

The new Kolkata Metro GM lauded the state government for its initiatives in removing a lot of encroachments. "However, a few hurdles are yet to be crossed. Fifty hutments in Kamarhati Municipality (Neopara-Baranagar-Dakshineswar) have been removed recently," he said, adding that the rest is expected to be removed within a month.

The Kolkata Metro GM also said that the new Chinese and ICF Metro rakes which will be in place soon in Kolkata will have CCTVs. "We will step up our activities to increase passengers' safety," he said.

Harindra Rao, General Manager, Eastern Railway, too, said safety is getting utmost importance in Railways. "We are diverting materials meant for new projects to safety projects," he explained.

According to him, a lot of work is being done in the Indian Railways and the scope and budgetary allocations are rising. "It's a great opportunity for the private sector to do business with the Indian Railways. It is win-win for all," Rao said, adding: "The Indian Railways has turned its focus on IT-enabled services."

Umesh Chowdhury , Chairman, CII Eastern Region, and Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Titagarh Wagons Ltd; set the context by saying that it is top-class technologies that will define and determine how the Indian Railways and the industry at large will take their partnership forward. Indian Railways is an excellent organisation staying focused on operation, efficiency and safety.