Prime Minister to flag off key metro links in Kolkata on August 22
The metro stretches to be flagged off include the Noapara to Jai Hind (airport) stretch in the Yellow Line; the Sealdah to Esplanade stretch in the Green Line; and the Beleghata to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch in the Orange Line, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a letter to Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sukanta Majumdar.
The Prime Minister's programme is scheduled to take place at the Jessore Road metro station of the Yellow Line, the letter further said.
The inauguration programmes were 'a historic gift for West Bengal before Durga Puja', Mr. Majumdar said on Wednesday.
The announcement assumes significance as it involves the inauguration of key metro links in the city and its suburbs, including the Yellow Line link to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, and the much-awaited under-river Green Line linking the key business districts of Howrah, Kolkata, and Bidhannagar.
Currently, the Green Line runs between two separate stretches from east to west — Salt Lake Sector V and Sealdah (9.4 km), and Esplanade to Howrah Maidan (4.8 km). However, the completion of the two kilometre-long metro connection between Sealdah and Esplanade had been pending due to soil subsidence and water leakage issues in Kolkata's Bowbazar area.
Once the Sealdah and Esplanade stations are operationally connected, the Green Line will run a net distance of 16.55 km between Howrah Maidan and Sector V. It will cover 12 stations, six of which will be elevated, and the rest would be underground.
Currently, the 18.13 km-long Yellow Line is under construction. The Prime Minister on August 22 will inaugurate its 7 km-long first phase between Noapara and Jai Hind (airport) stations, allowing flight-bound passengers from across the city to avail the metro to reach the airport.
Meanwhile, the Orange Line, which is set to cover a total distance of 32 km between Kavi Subhash (New Garia) and Jai Hind (airport) stations, is partially operational, and partially under construction by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the second phase connection between Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby crossing) and Beleghata (metropolitan) stations of the Orange Line.
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