Citizens looking forward to the opening of the Metro link between Esplanade and Sealdah might have to wait for some more time. The authorities of Kolkata Metro Railway are considering the final commissioning of the remaining leg of the East-West Corridor from Sealdah to Esplanade and Bimanbandar to Noapara stretch of the Metro networks.
According to official sources, the Sealdah-Esplanade stretch is being readied with intensive trial runs generally needed before the final commissioning. The tests are to be continued for some more weeks. On the other side, the stretch between Jai Hind Bimanbandar to Noapara stations of Yellow Line is also being readied for final commissioning.
The general manager of Kolkata Metro Railway, P Uday Kumar Reddy, also inspected the stretch between Jai Hind Bimanbandar to Noapara stations of Yellow Line yesterday with senior officials of Metro Railway. A trial run was also conducted with the rake MR 413 between Jai Hind Bimanbandar to Noapara stations in presence of the General Manager and other senior officers.
A third project of the city Metro, for which numerous commuters are waiting for an inaugural, is the subway connecting Howrah railway station and Howrah Metro station. The upcoming subway directly leading to the Metro station would make the process much easier for commuters. The upcoming subway has been constructed beside platform No. 15 of the existing Howrah railway station with the other end at the Metro station. The L’ shaped subway is designed strategically to allow movement of visitors from two ends. It is also to include entry/exit points from platforms-15 and 16 of the existing railway station and converge at the concourse level through escalators and stairs.
According to official sources, the three Metro projects, whenever opened for commercial services, are anticipated to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a mega event. However, as anticipated by some senior Metro railway officials, this could take some more time.