Kolkata Metro update: 38% increase in budget allocation for Metro projects in 2021-22

In the 2021-2022 Union Budget, 38 percent more allocation has been made for Kolkata Metro projects in comparison to the previous year’s budget Allocation. Shri Manoj Joshi, General Manager, Metro Railway, who is also holding the additional charge of General Manager of Eastern Railway has informed this at a virtual Press Conference held o­n 08.02.2021.

  • Addressing the media persons, he said that adequate funds for improvement of safety, passenger amenities, and upgradation of infrastructure have been made in  this year’s budget.  
  • Throughput improvement, development of infrastructure to address the future needs,   increasing line capacity are some of the highlights of  this year’s budget, he informed.
  • Rs. 520 crores have been allocated for Noapara to Barasat via Bimanbandar Metro project in this budget in comparison to Rs. 204 crores allocated in 2020-2021 budget.
  • Noapara – Bimanbandar stretch (7.04 km) of this project has been planned to be commissioned within next two years. 
  • For the Joka – Esplanade  Metro project, Rs. 350 crores have been allocated in the 2021-2022 Union Budget in comparison to Rs. 99 crores allocated in the 2020-2021 budget.   
  • It has been targeted to commission the Joka – Mominpur via Taratala stretch of this project within next two years, Shri Joshi said. 
  • Efforts are o­n to commission Kavi Subhas to Science City (8.6 kms long) stretch of Kavi Subhash to Biman Bandar via Rajathat project, he informed.  
  • For completion of this project, Rs. 350 crores have been allocated in this year’s budget in comparison to Rs. 328 crores of the last year.  
  • The last part of the tunneling work of East-West Metro between Esplanade and Sealdah (800 metres stretch) has been going o­n and necessary funds have been allocated for smooth execution of this project, Shri Joshi informed. 

Source: Metro Railway, Kolkata-Press Release | Image Credit: Metro Railway, Kolkata