Work resumes on East-West Metro line

The work of East-West Metro resumed in the Sobhas Saravar side. The concrete construction has been made there in the tunnel.

The project – one of the longest Metro railway connectivity in India has started a long time ago. The project was in a deadlock due to several land related issues.

However, now most of the land problems have been sorted out. The Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited (KMRCL), who is building the project, has taken the help from state Transport department.

Workers have started demolishing structures within Raja Subodh Mullick Square (formerly Wellington Square) to make way for ventilation and emergency evacuation shafts for this Metro corridor.

The East-West Metro corridor is between Salt Lake Sector-V and Howrah.

KMC started demolition of the structures in Raja Subodh Mullick Square barely a couple of days after Metro Railway officials met the concerned officials. Among those present at the meeting was Kolkata Mayor Sovon Chatterjee.

Among the structures being demolished along Lenin Sarani are three KMC buildings and a century-old boxing club that is to be relocated to another portion of the park.

A Metro station was initially planned at Raja Subodh Mullick Square, but this was dropped as several buildings around the park would have to be sacrificed.

In the last couple of months, Metro has directed that the pace of work for all projects in Kolkata to be expedited and work be completed wherever land is available.

Esplanade Station of East-West Metro corridor, which will be junction of three Metro alignments, got a go ahead signal from Army.

This is a crucial breakthrough for the alignment as the Army is the custodian of the entire Maidan area, known as city’s lung.

No construction is allowed anymore in Maidan area, except some mass-transit projects like Metro which benefits a large number of people.