Kolkata Metro gets CRS approval for opening of 4-km Noapara-Dakshineswar stretch

Kolkata, India (Urban Transport News): The Kolkata Metro Railway on 10th February 2021 received safety approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for the commencement of metro services on 4-km Dakshineswar extension (Noapara - Dakshineswar) of the north-south Metro corridor.

A team led by Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) Shailesh Kumar Pathak had carried out two-day safety inspection of this section on February 5-6, 2021. They conducted speed trial test of Medha rake at the speed of 82 kmph. 

The team had also checked a list of technical parameters, including the signalling system and the track alignment. The two new metro stations Dakshineswar and Baranagar were properly checked along with the Noapara station. This station has been operational since July 2013.

The Kolkata Metro will now write Railway Board so that this section can be opened for the public before the election code comes into effect in West Bengal. Once the new section is added to the existing 28 km north-south corridor, passengers can cover 32.2 km from Kavi Subhas station to Dakshineswar.

The construction of entire section was carried out under the closed supervison of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and this stretch has been completed at the cost of Rs 628.4 crore over the last 10 years. The mostly elevated section, which also includes 1.4 km of embankment, has suffered huge time and cost overruns because of encroachers. The last 202 of the total 500 encroachers were rehabilitated in February 2018. After that, the project picked up pace. However, it also missed deadlines.

The last one was in July last year when the train protection and warning system (TPWS) — a software that prevents collision — ran into the Covid-induced lockdown. Finally, German manufacturers Siemens’ delivered the software in October and the line’s 750V DC third rail system was energized on November 30.

The first trial run on this section was conducted on 23rd December 2020. In the second week of January, CRS gave the preliminary permissions for the two new stations and Noapara, which is now the terminal of the existing line.

Once opening of this stretch people from vast stretches on either side of BT Road, Bally, Dunlop and Dankuni can get benefits of metro.

For more details, please explore the "Kolkata Metro" page of Urban Transport News.