Kolkata Metro has been the mainstay of transportation in the City, in continuation with this the metro network has expanded by 25.34 Km since 2014 and another 13.27 Km network is likely to be added in the Financial Year 2023-2024.
More Details:
Since its inception in 1984, Kolkata Metro has been the mainstay of transportation in the City of Joy. Up to 2014, only 27.99 km Metro network was functional in Kolkata. The demand for extension of the Metro network was raised but the necessary expansion didn’t take place.
After 2014, a palpable change has taken place and Metro network has been expanded by 25.34 km starting with the inauguration of first phase of East-West Metro from Salt Lake Sector V to Salt Lake Stadium over a stretch of 5.3 km on 14.02.2020.
After that, Kolkata Metro has extended its wings and Salt Lake Stadium to Phoolbagan (1.67 km) and Phoolbagan to Sealdah (2.33 km) stretches were also opened for commercial service. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Noapara-Dakshineswar stretch (4.14 km) on 22.02.2021.
Recently Works:
- Joka- Taratala (6.5 km) stretch of Purple Line was also inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 30.12.2022.
- Another 5.4 km network from New Garia to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch of New Garia to Airport Corridor is also ready and at present signalling and telecommunications works are going on here which will be completed very soon and this section will also be opened for the commuters.
- During 2022-2023, the historic highest ever Metro network expansion of 14.23 km in a single year (36% addition to the existing network) has been achieved since Kolkata Metro’s inception.
- At present, Kolkata Metro network spans over a stretch of 47.93 km (32.13 km of North – South Corridor, 9.3 km of East-West Corridor and 6.5 km of Joka-Esplanade Corridor).
Future Implementations:
- This illustrious saga of expansion of Metro Railway will continue in 2023-2024 also, as 13.27 km expansion of the network has been planned.
- Out of this, 4.80 km from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch of East-West Metro will be opened very soon.
- The Purple Line will also be extended over a stretch of 1.24 km from Taratala to Majerhat in 2024.
- Metro services are also expected to start from Noapara to Dum Dum Cantonment over a stretch of 2.84 km by this financial year-end.
- Another 4.39 km is expected to be added in Kavi Subhas to Airport Metro Corridor as work from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata is nearing completion.
For completion of all pending Metro Projects, enough funds have been provided by Government of India. In between 1972 to 2014, an expenditure of Rs. 5981 crore was made for all Kolkata Metro Projects. After 2014, a drastic change has taken place and till October, 2023, an expenditure of Rs. 19043 crore has been made to complete all the on-going Metro Projects in Kolkata.
Source: Kolkata Metro- Press Release | Images Credit: Kolkata Metro
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