Officials revive Baranagar-Barrackpore metro project after a decade

Officials from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Rail Vikas Nigam (RVNL) are actively working to revive the Baranagar-Barrackpore Metro project, which had been shelved nearly a decade ago. It is reported that a proposal previously discussed around 2015 is now under reconsideration to kickstart the project, offering potential benefits to the residents between Baranagar and Barrackpore. RVNL has been entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the project. During a meeting held at the KMC headquarters, Mayor Firhad Hakim expressed his strong interest in advancing the project. A previous suggestion to realign the project along the Kalyani Expressway was deemed unfeasible. Mayor Hakim has urged RVNL to conduct a fresh survey of the route, specifically focusing on the construction of viaducts and identifying suitable locations for crucial water pipelines along the centre of BT Road. The plan involves relocating existing pipelines, with the possibility of laying new ones and scrapping the current ones after redirecting water supply. The critical water pipelines in question include six major underground pipes responsible for supplying water from Palta to Tala. This water supply infrastructure caters to the drinking water needs of 70% of Kolkata's population. One of these pipelines, measuring 72 inches in diameter, serves residents in the north, central, and a portion of south Kolkata. A KMC official stated that upon receiving the RVNL report, a comprehensive survey will be conducted to determine whether certain pipelines should be abandoned, new ones laid, or if relocation is necessary. A Metro official disclosed that RVNL has been instructed to conduct a survey of the 5 km alignment between the proposed Krishnakoli, Acharya Prafulla Chandra, and Gandhi Ashram stations.