East-West Metro’s Esplanade-Sealdah Stretch Set To Open

18 Aug 2025 CW Team

The long-awaited East-West Metro is finally set to begin operations, with the 2.5-km Esplanade-Sealdah stretch ready for inauguration. The section, completed in late April, has been awaiting passenger services since then.

Satish Kumar, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, inspected the corridor on Tuesday along with two other metro routes. He travelled between Howrah and Sealdah on the Green Line, from Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Airport) on the Yellow Line, and between Ruby and Beleghata on the Orange Line. Kumar emphasised that the railways are committed to upholding the highest standards of cleanliness, safety and punctuality, in line with other metro corridors across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate these stretches soon, though the railway ministry has not yet confirmed a date.

Once services start, a one-way journey between Howrah Maidan and Sector V will take around 35 minutes, while the trip between Howrah and Sealdah stations will be reduced to about 12 minutes. Trains will operate every eight minutes during peak hours and every ten minutes during off-peak periods.

The East-West Metro employs a communications-based train control (CBTC) system, currently running with Automatic Train Protection Movement (ATPM) software or manual mode, maintaining a minimum 50-metre distance between trains. Trials are underway to introduce Automatic Train Operations (ATO) within six months, which is expected to reduce travel time by up to seven minutes and allow higher frequency.

The Green Line runs 17 six-coach trains manufactured by BEML, with 14 rakes already commissioned, according to the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC). The project has faced delays due to water leakage and soil subsidence since 2019.

Once operational, the commissioning of the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch will finally connect the entire 16.6-km East-West Metro corridor between Howrah Maidan and Sector V.

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..