Kolkata (Metro Rail News): Last week, Kolkata Metro’s 15.215 km Purple Line gained traction when Larsen & Toubro officially initiated the construction of Victoria Memorial Station under the 5.05km long package UG1.
Work commenced following the barricading work, which began in September 2023 to set up ground for the Victoria Memorial station’s construction. Larsen & Toubro deployed a trench cutter to facilitate the construction of a Diaphragm wall (D-wall) for the station box which will span 325 meters.
This section is located in the northern part of Corridor 3 (Purple Line) which extends 15.215 km from Joka to Esplanade. It will feature twin tunnels that pass through four underground metro stations: Kidderpore, Victoria Memorial, Park Street, and Esplanade. The Esplanade station holds great importance as it will be the first to offer interchange among three lines (Purple Line, Blue Line, and Green Line), ensuring a smooth transition for commuters.
Contract
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) awarded this 5.05 km underground package UG1 to Larsen & Toubro at Rs. 2447 crore in June 2023. L&T is likely to deploy two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will construct underground tunnels for this package.
Progress of Kolkata Metro’s Line 3
Due to extreme delays, the Purple Line has yet to be connected with the rest of the lines of the Kolkata Metro. The fully planned route of the Purple Line will extend 15.08 km from Diamond Park in Joka to Esplanade in central Kolkata.
Currently, the 7.74km long Joka – Majerhat section is open for commercial operations. Once fully operational, the Purple Line is expected to play a vital role in connecting the residential areas of South Kolkata to the commercial hubs of central Kolkata, improving convenience and accessibility for commuters.
