Funds for Kolkata metro projects rise by 164.77 per cent

15 Feb 2023 CW Team

Kolkata Metro has received Rs. 32202.50 million in this year's Union Budget, which was presented to Parliament. This is significantly more, a 164.77 per cent rise than Rs. 12162.50 million as allotted in the 2022-2023 budget proposal.

The total plan outlay for the Metro Railway has increased by a record-breaking 153.36 percent and is set at Rs. 34965.40 million.

Metro Railway intends to open new Metro routes and extend existing ones in 2023, provided that sufficient funds are available. The Commissioner of Railway Safety, N.F., has already conducted an inspection of the New Garia to Hemanta Mukherjee stretch of the Rajarhat Metro Project (Orange Line) from New Garia to the Airport. It is anticipated that his mandatory approval to begin commercial services on this stretch will be received very soon.

Commercial services on this 5.4-kilometer stretch are expected to begin in February 2023 following that approval.

In October 2023, this section will be extended further to Salt Lake Sec-V, which measures 9.82 km in length. In addition, the Noapara-Bimanbandar-Barasat Metro Project's (7.04 km) Noapara-Bimanbandar section will be opened in the same month.

The Purple Line's commercial services between Joka and Taratala have already begun. By October 2023, this service will be extended further from Taratala to Majherhat (1.24 km).

A deadline of December of this year has also been set for the much-anticipated expansion of Metro services from Sealdah to Howrah Maidan (7.25 km). Once this goal is met, the country's Metro will run under a great river like the Hooghly for the first time. Consequently, commuters from the suburbs can quickly and smoothly reach Salt Lake, Sealdah, and Esplanade without encountering traffic congestion.

This year, Metro plans to rapidly expand, adding 30.75 km to the 47.93 km already in the Kolkata Metro network.

"These extensions and opening of new routes will be this year's Puja Gift to the people of Kolkata," said Shri Arun Arora, General Manager of Metro Railway.