Kolkata's first Metro ring ready except for 366m stretch at Chingrighata
A passenger travelling from Esplanade or further and heading south on the Blue Line can disembark at New Garia and switch to the Orange Line. While this line is currently operational till Ruby intersection, once the gap in the viaduct at Chingrighata is bridged, it will enable the passenger to travel to Sector V.
There, the passenger can switch to the Green Line and travel back to Esplanade, once the small stretch between Sealdah and Esplanade is commissioned.
Efforts are on to create another ring by linking the Purple Line from Joka to the Blue Line at Esplanade and Tollygunge. Later, commuters can avail of a larger ring when the Yellow Line from Noapara allows a Blue Line passenger from New Garia to travel to the airport. There, the passenger can switch to the Orange Line and travel back to New Garia.
Reddy said the commissioning of the East-West Metro's last 2.6km leg between Sealdah and Esplanade is taking time because Metro is complying with the observations made by the commission of railway safety (CRS).
The nodal authority for mandatory safety nod for any new Metro line in India cleared the Esplanade-Sealdah section on April 28 with observations on signalling, fire safety, and other systems. Once complete, the entire 16km East-West Metro - from Sector V to Howrah Maidan - will be operational.
CRS may inspect the upcoming Airport line at the end of this month, the GM said at the inauguration of passenger amenities, like electronic lockers, at East-West Metro's Howrah station, and unveiling a massaging chair in the North-South Line's Esplanade station.
Commuters will be able to hire these lockers to store luggage. The lockers will be available in other Metro stations soon.
"Kolkata Metro is adding passenger facilities every day. The North-South Metro carries around 7 lakh passengers every day. When the entire East-West Metro is functional, the daily passenger count of North-South Metro will be more than 10 lakh," said Reddy.
Asked about land hurdles at Chingrighata for Orange Line and Kidderpore for Purple Line, the GM said, "We are liaising with the state.
Hope the sites are available soon. The people will benefit immensely when the Orange Line reaches Sector V, using the interface to switch to the Green Line."
Girder-launching to bridge the last 366m of the Orange Line has been stuck at Chingrighata crossing since Feb 2. Implementing agency RVNL has sought two weekend nights to launch the last two spans of 28m and 34m over the crossing.
The remaining 304m viaduct will pass through the eastern drainage channel and Sukantanagar, and no traffic block will be needed for girder-launching ab-ove these areas, officials said. RV-NL also needs land at Alipore Bodyguard Lines for the undergrou-nd Kidderpore station.
Construction of the other three underground stations for Purple Line is on. Metro Railway is also trying to open the Yellow Line's Noapara-Airport section this year.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Brother's Day wishes
,
messages
and quotes !
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Metro's ridership jumps to 59 lakh in July; commuters demand increase in train frequency, more feeder buses
1 2 Pune: Metro's ridership jumped to 59.58 lakh in July from June's footfall of 52.41 lakh, recording the highest monthly footfall so far since operations began in the city. With this rise of 7 lakh travellers month on month, frequent Metro users said that it is the right time to improve train frequency or add coaches to existing three-bogey trains to deal with the rush. Among the two functional routes, the Vanaz-Ramwadi stretch recorded more footfall (33.7 lakh) in July than the Swargate-PCMC corridor (25.87 lakh). You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Commuters said that officegoers in the Nagar Road area, like Kharadi and Airport Road, tend to use the Vanaz-Ramwadi route. Many have switched to Metro in two months since the monsoon began, choosing it against the traffic-choked roads. This has significantly pushed up daily footfall. Tejas Shinde, who works at an IT firm in Vimannagar, has been using the Metro from Nal Stop since June. "Trains run full during evening hours, and a rise in frequency would help," he told TOI. Maha Metro at present operates trains every seven minutes during peak hours, which travellers want increased to every five minutes. Priti Iyer, a frequent commuter on the Ramwadi-Civil Court route, said it is likely that the rush will increase in the coming days. She added that Maha Metro should work on two options immediately — increasing train frequency and operating trains at a higher speed to reduce travel time. "Many commuters are also looking for upgrades in feeder bus services from various Metro stations. At the moment, feeder buses run from eight to nine stations. This can easily go up to 15 stations," Iyer said. Maha Metro officials said the rise in footfall could be for many reasons other than the monsoon impetus. According to them, daily officegoers are opting for Metro services, as are a significant number of students. Around 26,000 student cards have been issued so far by Maha Metro, under which students get discounts on every ride. For the feeder buses started on different routes by Maha Metro with PMPML, average daily footfall hit 1.92 lakh in July. There was a steady rise over the last six months, officials said. Meanwhile, ahead of Ganeshotsav, devotees and members of Ganapati mandals are pushing for an increase in train frequency for the festival. Sangram Tikhe, a Shukrawar Peth resident, said, "People will use Metro in large numbers this year as these services have been made operational at the Mandai, Kasba Peth, and Swargate stations. The existing frequency will have to go up." However, officials said Metro trains are likely to run at six-minute intervals for the festival. They added that while trials have begun to facilitate this frequency as of this month, they are looking into increasing the frequency to every five minutes at a later stage. One Metro rake sent to Patna; commuters object Maha Metro recently sent a rake from Pune for the Patna Metro. Commuters and political functionaries said this rake should have been used here to deal with increasing footfall instead of sending it away. Congress leaders expressed displeasure, calling it a political move ahead of state assembly polls in Bihar. A Maha Metro official told TOI, "A sufficient number of rakes are available here at present. An order was placed for 34 rakes, of which 33 were received. One was leased to the Patna Metro. Right now, 28 rakes are operational on two routes."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
BTS V's Honest Take on Airport Fan Chaos - Bring Back the Purple Line!
V's Straight Talk in Weverse Live: Airport Woes Exposed Picture this: You're a global superstar heading to the airport, but instead of a smooth send-off, it's a whirlwind of crowds and chaos. That's the reality BTS' V described in his recent Weverse live broadcast. Keeping it real, V shared, "The airport isn't just for us, right? It's a shared space, so we've got to maintain order." It's that classic moment when things get too hectic, and someone has to speak up - like navigating a packed terminal during peak hours, where one misstep can turn everything upside down. V looked back fondly on times when he could casually wave and say, "See you soon!" to fans. Nowadays, it's all about rushing through without a glance. Adding a light touch, he mentioned that if the 'Purple Line' made a comeback, he'd even spend an extra 10 minutes deciding what to wear. "No matter how stylish I get, if no photos come out of it, what's the point?" he joked, turning a frustrating issue into something we can all chuckle at while nodding in agreement. The Magic of the Purple Line: Fans' Smart Safety Hack If you're new to this, the 'Purple Line' is no mystery - it's a clever fan-driven setup using purple ribbons, BTS's signature color, to create safe zones at airports and public events. This has been key in keeping overly enthusiastic fans at a respectful distance, preserving order and letting the members move freely. Drawing from K-pop community insights on sites like AllKpop, this approach has significantly cut down on chaotic moments by establishing clear boundaries that everyone respects. Think of it as a simple yet effective barrier that turns potential mayhem into organized excitement. Industry reports from Soompi highlight how such fan-led efforts have smoothed out international travels for K-pop groups, minimizing complaints from other travelers and keeping the focus on the music rather than the mess. Why Airport Disorder is a Big Deal Right Now Airport scenes for idols have been making waves lately, and not in a good way. From clashes with security teams to heated discussions about 'overprotective' measures, it's creating headaches for celebrities, fans, and everyday passengers alike. V highlighted how this lack of order strips away small pleasures, like dressing up for the occasion. "If fans keep things in check, I might even show up in a suit," he said with a grin, blending sincerity with his trademark charm. On a broader note, with K-pop's massive global following - think millions tuning in for comebacks and tours, as tracked by platforms like Gaon Chart - these issues pop up more frequently. Sacnilk notes that fan gatherings at major events can sometimes lead to minor hiccups, underscoring the importance of better coordination. Event data from sources like BookMyShow often shows attendance in the tens of thousands, proving how quickly enthusiasm can tip into disorder without proper guidelines. V's Message: Time for Fans to Step Up and Shine In the end, V's words serve as a friendly reminder that true fandom thrives on respect and safety. Reviving the Purple Line could restore those feel-good moments without the frenzy. It's all about channeling that passion positively - who wouldn't want to see more relaxed, stylish airport appearances from the BTS crew? Let's make it happen for a smoother ride all around.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Newly appointed BMRCL MD inspects key progress on Bengaluru Airport Metro Line
The newly appointed Managing Director of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) J. Ravi Shankar, conducted a detailed inspection of the under-construction Bengaluru Airport Metro Line on Thursday. This crucial corridor, stretching from Kempegowda International Airport to Hebbal, is part of Phase 2B of Namma Metro. According to a release by BMRCL, the MD reviewed critical infrastructure components, including the viaduct, station buildings, and the upcoming Airport Depot. 'He also reviewed high-priority locations such as railway crossings and cut-and-cover sections near the Indian Air Force premises,' the release stated. Mr. Shankar instructed engineers and contractors to strictly adhere to the project timeline while ensuring world-class infrastructure and compliance with safety norms. The line is expected to provide a much-needed transit access to North Bengaluru, facilitating travel between the city and the airport, which is around 35 km from the Central Business District(CBD), and helping decongest surrounding traffic. The line, which is called Blue Line or ORR-Airport Metro Line consists of two sections - Phase-2A (Central Silk Board to Krishnarajapura) and Phase-2B (Krishnarajapura to Airport). Construction of Phase-2A, began in August 2021. Construction of Phase-2B began in February 2022.
