From today the East-West Metro services in Kolkata will remain suspended for a total of eight days in two phases. Metro trains will not operate between “Howrah Maidan to Dharmatala (Esplanade) and Sealdah to Sector V” due to crucial connectivity work at Bowbazar. This suspension will occur in two phases – “first from February 13th to 16th and again from February 20th to 23rd” - to facilitate integration with the Green Line.

Metro Closure Details

The Kolkata Metro authorities have announced that the “CBTC signal system testing” will be conducted on the Green Line from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake during this period. Due to this, passengers traveling on the busy “Howrah-Kolkata and Salt Lake-Sealdah routes” will face disruptions. Metro officials have apologised for the inconvenience caused to daily commuters. 

Why is the Metro Service Suspended.?

The “East-West Metro Corridor” also known as the ‘Green Line’ connects Salt Lake with Howrah Maidan. This corridor features India's first “underwater metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly River” linking Howrah and Dharmatala. The final phase of the project requires extensive safety and operational checks, necessitating the temporary closure. 

Read More: Terrible Accident in Bally...! Taxi Crushed by a Truck on GT Road, Bikers Seriously Injured.

Challenges Faced in the Metro Project

- The “Sealdah-Dharmatala stretch (2.63 km)” faced delays due to “land subsidence issues in Bowbazar” causing cracks in several houses.

- Local protests and safety concerns further delayed the project.

- Advanced engineering solutions were used to overcome these hurdles and the “trial runs through Bowbazar were successfully completed recently”.

Impact on Commuters

Thousands of passengers rely on the East-West Metro for daily travel. With services shut down “traffic congestion and increased pressure on buses and other transport modes” are expected. The Green Line integration aims to enhance Kolkata’s metro connectivity in the long run.