A top official with the city’s metro operator, “Metro Railway Kolkata,” stated on Wednesday that the Kolkata metro might begin service on three additional segments by the end of this month. This follows a two-day visit by railway board chairman Satish Kumar, who examined the 2.6-kilometer Esplanade–Sealdah leg of the East-West metro as well as the Noapara–Airport route.
“We are hopeful that with the Commissioner of Railway Safety giving nod to the East-West Metro’s 2.6 km stretch between Esplanade and Sealdah earlier and after the visit of the Railway Board Chairman, the entire Green Line connecting Howrah Maidan–Salt Lake Sector V will be open for commuters by August itself,” the spokesperson told PTI.
“Commuters heading to Salt Lake who now have to disembark from the Howrah side at Esplanade and then negotiate heavy traffic to get to Sealdah for a connecting metro to Sector V will benefit from this. It will significantly boost connectivity and alleviate their hardships,” the representative continued.
Kolkata’s metro system may grow in September as well after August since two additional crucial sections have obtained all the approvals. According to the spokesman, the Orange line’s 4.5-kilometer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby More)–Beleghata corridor and the Yellow line’s first phase, the Noapara–Airport corridor, are currently awaiting approval from the PMO to begin operations by next month.
“Metro services in large cities are linked to the airport. That demand will be met with the opening of the Noapara-Airport route,” he continued.
In order to reach Salt Lake’s entry point and interchange at the nearby Phoolbagan metro station on the Green Line, or to take connecting transportation to the IT hub at Sector V, Nicco Park, Karunamoyee, or City Centre 1, passengers using the partially operational Kavi Subhash (New Garia) line will find the Ruby–Beleghata stretch to be a relief, according to the PTI report.