Metro budget: Fund boost for Noapara-Barasat project

Kolkata: Fund allocation for Noapara-Barasat metro project has been increased in the 2019-20 metro budget on Wednesday.

Apart from Noapara-Barasat metro project, funds have been sanctioned for construction work of two other projects, which did not get much benefits in the last year's budget.

According to the data provided by Metro Railway, during the budget of financial year 2018-19, the Baranagar-Barrackpore and Dakshineswar and Central Park Metro-Haldiram metro projects were not granted any fund.

This year, both the projects have been granted money but it is less compared to other ongoing projects. The Baranagar-Barrackpore and Dakshineswar project has been granted Rs 65crore and Central Park Metro-Haldiram metro project has been granted only Rs 10 lakh. Apart from theses two projects, Dum Dum-Tollygunj project has been granted Rs 36 crore. Last year, the budget allocation for the project was Rs 60 crore.

The Metro Railway has joined hands Rail Vikash Nigam Limited (RVNL) for the project and most of the work has been completed. Thus, the budget allocation has been decreased.

Among the other two ongoing projects of Metro Railway, budget allocation for construction of Joka-BBD Bag via Majerhat along with modification for extension from Joka-Diamond Park phase I remained the same as previous year, which is Rs 100 crore. The budget allocation for construction of Noapara-Barasat via Bimanbandar project is Rs 225 crore. The budget allocation in this project has been approximately increased by Rs 48 crore. Apart from Metro Railway, Eastern Railway has been granted Rs 2366.99 crore during the budget allocation of 2019-20.

According to the budget data provided by the Eastern Railway, this year Rs 179 crore approximately has been allocated only for safety work purposes.

For doubling of tracks and track renewal, Rs 468.46 crore and Rs 587 crore have been granted, respectively. For passenger amenities Rs 208.15 crore has been granted. This apart, for traffic facilities such as yard remodeling and other related works, signal, and bridge-tunnel works, Rs 65.32 crore, Rs 83.25 crore and Rs 70.69 crore have been granted, respectively.