Kolkata Metro Line 2
Kolkata Metro Line 2 East West Metro ইস্ট ওয়েস্ট মেট্রো | |
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File:Kolkata KMRC logo.png | |
Overview | |
Status | Under Construction |
Locale | Kolkata |
Termini |
|
Stations | 12 |
Website | KMRC |
Service | |
Type | Rapid transit |
System | Kolkata Metro |
Operator(s) | KMRC |
Rolling stock | CAF [1] |
Technical | |
Line length | 14.67 kilometres (9.12 mi) Underground : 8.90 kilometres (5.53 mi) Elevated : 5.77 kilometres (3.59 mi) |
Character | Elevated and Underground |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Operating speed | 80 km/h (designed) |
Line 2, also known as East-West corridor of the Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system under construction which will serve Kolkata, Salt Lake and Howrah in the Indian state of West Bengal underneath the Hooghly River. It would consist of 12 stations from Salt Lake Sector V in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west, of which 6 would be elevated and 6 would be underground, with a total distance of 14.67 km.
History
The master plan had already identified the corridor way back in 1971. But the experience of India’s first metro and the success of the Delhi metro network contributed to the sanction of the East – West Metro corridor which will connect Howrah Railway Station with the Satellite City of Salt Lake underneath the Hooghly River. In January 2004, Pacific Consultant International Group conducted a feasibility study for the line. The report proposed the route and tubular structures under the Hooghly River.
A new organisation was formed known as Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRC) which will be executing the operations of this Line thus starting the physical construction in 2009.[3] Of KMRC's eight directors, four each are from the state and central governments. The cost is being shared between the state government (30 per cent), the Union Urban Development Ministry (25 per cent), and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) (45 per cent).[4] But as of 2011 most of the share of this project went to Indian Railways with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The project is estimated at a cost of ₹50 billion (US$590 million).[5]
But due to some major set backs the project got delayed. These were mainly due to Land Acquisition, slum relocation and route alignment problems. The East-West Metro was originally slated to be operational by 2012, but is later pushed back to 2015. The first phase, a stretch of 9 km, is currently expected to be operational in June 2018 and the second phase, 6 km in length, will be operational by June 2019.
Current Status
As of December 2015:
- Elevated Viaduct: More than 90% of elevated viaduct have also been completed except at Duttabad where around 18 pillars are yet to be completed due to land acquisition problems. The land problem have been resolved in November 2015 by active cooperation between the state and central government. Construction is going to start soon after rehabilitation of residents is completed.
- Elevated Station Exteriors: All the elevated stations external framework have been constructed.
- Elevated Station Interiors: The construction of internal structure and roof of elevated station at Karunamoyee has started.
- Underground Tunnel from Subhas Sorobor to Sealdah:
- Underground Stations from Subhas Sorobor to Sealdah:
- Underground Tunnel from Sealdah to Howrah Maidan:
- Train Depot: The construction of train depot is ongoing and nearing completion at Salt Lake Central Park.
Infrastructure
Stations
All the stations in this line will be equipped with Platform Screen Doors to keep people away from the tracks.[6] Mott MacDonald is the detailed design consultant for all the elevated stations, whereas Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects have designed all the underground stations. Out of the 6 underground stations, 3 will be built by ITD Cementation, a part of Italian-Thai Development Public Company and the other 3 will be built by Afcons including the 520 meters underwater stretch. All the elevated stations will be built by Kolkata based Simplex Infrastructure ltd.[7][8]
Electrification & Signalling
The line will have two types of signalling equipment supplied by ANSALDO STS . One will feature cab signalling and continuous automatic train control with automatic train protection. The other signalling equipment will include an integrated system featuring fibre optic cable, SCADA, radios and a PA system. The line will also have a train information system, control telephones and a centralised clock system.
Operations
Unlike the north-south corridor, the east-west metro will run from 5 am to 11 pm at a frequency of 2.5 minutes during peak hours and 5 minutes during non-peak hours.[9]
Rolling stock
CAF in collaboration with Melco will supply 14 trains for this line.[10] The 14 rakes were acquired at a cost of approximately €110m[11] ₹6 billion (US$70 million). Each rake will compose of 6 coaches having a capacity of 2068 people per train.[12] The maximum speed of the train will be 90 km/h. The first lot of trains was to be manufactured in Spain and imported to Kolkata in November 2014. The next lot was to be manufactured in India. However, the tender was cancelled by KMRC due to technical reasons[13] and a re-tender was issued in July 2015. BEML emerged as the only bidder in the fourth round of bidding for providing rolling stock.[14] The contract for providing the rakes have been awarded to BEML.[15] BEML have earlier provided rakes for Delhi and Bangalore Metro. Fourteen trains, each with six coaches, are expected to be supplied to the East-West Metro.
See also
- Kolkata Metro
- List of Kolkata metro stations
- Kolkata Metro Rolling Stock
- List of rapid transit systems
- Kolkata tram
- Kolkata Lightrail
- Kolkata Monorail
- Kolkata Suburban Railway
References
- ^ "In Spanish".
- ^ [1]
- ^ "East-West Metro gets new boss". The Telegraph.
- ^ "East-West Metro's route likely to change". Business Standard.
- ^ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3650126.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home
- ^ "KMRC=2013-07-22".
- ^ "Mott MacDonald is detailed design consultant on Salt Lake City Stations". Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Railway Technology". Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ "Kolkata East West Metro". Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ "Kolkata loses Spanish Rides". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Bid saves Metro blushes". The Telegraph.
- ^ "Central PSU wins Rs 900-crore Metro rake order". The Times of India.