KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): On Wednesday, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) received feedback from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) regarding the commencement of commercial operations on the 3.9 km stretch of Kolkata Metro Line-2, connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.
Issues
This report highlights 50 issues discovered during the inspection of Phase 2A of the Green Line inspection conducted by Janak Kumar Garg, the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), and his team on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
The Inspection
The statutory inspection concluded with evaluations of passenger facilities, control rooms, and safety features at four newly established stations: Howrah Maidan, Howrah, Mahakaran, and Esplanade. The inspection concluded on Tuesday following a speed trial where one of the fourteen BEML trains on the line between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade reached a maximum speed of 90 kmph.
The gravity of the issues
Most concerns are minor: signage accuracy, CCTV coverage, lighting enhancements, fire safety measures, and regulating passenger access to specific areas. The more significant issues, such as the alarming discovery of cracks in tunnel ring segments and the necessary patching of concrete slabs and diaphragm walls, have already been addressed.
Commercial Operations
The commercial launch of the line now hinges on three factors: the prompt implementation of corrective measures by KMRC to meet CMRS requirements and suggestions for safe operation, approval from CMRS, and the scheduling alignment with local and national ministers interested in attending the launch event.
Focus on the East-West Metro Corridor
The Kolkata Metro Line 2, also recognised as the East-West Metro or Green Line, is a prominent rapid transit system in the Indian state of West Bengal. Presently operational between Salt Lake and Sealdah, the future expansion initiative aims to link Howrah by traversing beneath the Hooghly River with a planned eastern extension to Teghoria. Encompassing a total span of 22 km, the extended line will boast 17 stations, stretching from Teghoria (Haldiram) in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west. Notably, 11 stations will be elevated, while the remaining six will be underground.
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Only Almighty knows when this segment of Metro Railway will be open ! It’s now over 40 years the citizens are waiting for the service. But all time they are disappointed because of adverse reports of inspections. One thing always astonished me that this type of delay does not happen to the other cities !!!