Metro Railway, Kolkata is conducting inspections on the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch of the Kolkata East-West metro project, with a report on automatic signalling system upgrades for 12 stations due by March 2025. The project is estimated to cost Rs 100 billion in West Bengal.
The Kolkata Metro’s East-West Corridor, also known as the Green Line, has been a transformative project aimed at enhancing urban connectivity by linking Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V. A pivotal segment of this corridor is the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch, which has recently undergone significant inspections and trial runs, marking substantial progress toward its completion.
Inspection and Progress on the Esplanade-Sealdah Stretch
On November 9, 2024, General Manager P. Uday Kumar Reddy conducted a comprehensive inspection of the Bowbazar site, a critical section of the East-West Metro Railway. This area had previously experienced a tunnel leakage on September 5, 2024.
marking the fourth such incident since August 2019. The inspection aimed to assess the progress of work on the Sealdah-Esplanade stretch, with a focus on ensuring the structural integrity and safety of the tunnels. During this visit, Reddy walked through the tunnel from Bowbazar to.
Esplanade, overseeing the strengthening efforts and reviewing detailed project drawings. He emphasized the importance of expediting the completion of this segment to facilitate the commencement of services between Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V.
Trial Runs and Operational Readiness
Significant milestones were achieved in January 2025 when trial runs commenced on the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch. On January 21, 2025, the first trial run was successfully conducted through the west-bound tunnel of this 2.63 km section, which passes through. Bowbazar area—a zone that had previously encountered challenges due to subsidence and water leakage.
The trial run began at 11:20 AM from Sealdah and reached Esplanade at 11:31 AM, with the train operating at a speed of approximately 15 km/h. This successful trial was a crucial step toward initiating commercial services between these stations, thereby linking the two terminal stations, Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V, and enhancing the overall connectivity of the corridor.
Overcoming Challenges in Bowbazar
The Bowbazar area has been a focal point of challenges for the East-West Metro project, primarily due to incidents of soil subsidence and water leakage during tunnel construction. These issues have caused delays and necessitated extensive.
Mitigation efforts to ensure the safety and stability of the structures. The successful trial runs in January 2025 indicated that significant progress had been made in addressing these challenges, bringing the project closer to full operational status.
Significance of the Esplanade-Sealdah Stretch
The completion and operationalization of the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch are pivotal for the East-West Corridor. This segment serves as a critical link that, once operational, will allow commuters in Kolkata and surrounding areas to travel easily between Sealdah.
Howrah railway stations and different parts of the city, connecting through the Esplanade underground metro station. At present, East-West Metro trains operate on the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade and Sealdah-Sector 5 stretches.
Future Prospects
With the successful completion of inspections and trial runs, the East-West Metro project is poised to enhance Kolkata’s urban transportation landscape significantly. The full operation of the corridor will not only reduce travel time between key areas but also alleviate traffic congestion.
Contributing to a more efficient and sustainable urban transit system. The authorities are now focusing on completing the remaining tasks, including signaling and safety certifications, to commence commercial operations on the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch at the earliest.
In conclusion, the recent inspections and trial runs on the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch underscore the Kolkata Metro’s commitment to overcoming challenges and advancing toward the completion of the East-West Corridor. This progress signifies a transformative phase in Kolkata’s public transportation system, promising enhanced connectivity and convenience for its residents.
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