Kolkata Metro Line 2

Kolkata Metro Line 2 East–West Metro
Overview
Status	Under Construction
Locale	Kolkata
Termini	Howrah Maidan (west) Salt Lake Sector 5 (east)
Stations	12
Website	KMRC
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Kolkata Metro
Operator(s)	KMRC
Depot(s)	Central Park , Saltlake
Rolling stock	Bharat Earth Movers Limited BEML
Daily ridership	4 lakhs or 0.47 million by 2015 (projected)
History
Planned opening	March 2019
Technical
Line length	16.6 kilometres (10.3 mi) Underground : 10.83 kilometres (6.73 mi) Elevated : 5.77 kilometres (3.59 mi) Proposes: 15 kilometres (9.3 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	Underground – 6 Elevated – 6
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC using third rail
Operating speed	80 km/h (designed)

Line 2, also known as the East-West Corridor of the Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system under construction which will connect Salt Lake in Kolkata with Howrah by going underneath the Hooghly River/Ganga in the Indian state of West Bengal. 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 16.6 km.

The East-West corridor of the Kolkata Metro is under construction at Howrah Maidan in August 2012.

Under construction Line 2 and Line 6 of Kolkata Metro at Salt Lake Sector V, date Nov 2017. Karunamoyee Station on Line 2 can be seen in background.

Under construction Central Park station of Line 2 in Nov 2017

Under Construction Sector V Metro Station of Kolkata Metro Line 2

Kolkata East West Metro second day trial run.

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. 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). 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$600 million).

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 project will now be implemented in four phases. The first phase, from Sector V to Salt Lake Stadium, is currently expected to be operational in June 2018. The second phase, till Phoolbagan, will be operational by June 2019. The third phase till Sealdah is slated for being operational by December 2019 and the final phase which includes the journey through the tubular tunnels under the Ganges shall be operational by December 2020.

Current status

As of February 2018:

• Elevated Corridor: Out of the total length of 5.75 km the entire length have been completed. The 375 meters portion at Duttabad was completed using steel girders instead of pre-stressed balance (PSB) cantilever. This 375 meter section have been delayed due to resistance of local people. Construction could only start after rehabilitation of the people. Ballast less track have been laid on the elevated section.
• Elevated Station : Structural work and roofing work for elevated stations have been completed. Architectural and electrical work in the elevated stations is supposed to be completed in March 2018.
• Underground Tunnel for Phase 1: 5490 meters of tunnel have been constructed. This section was constructed by ITD-ITD Cementation JV. Two tunnel boring machines have been deployed in this section. All the cross passes between the two tunnels have also been completed.
• Underground Stations for Phase 1: Underground stations are to be constructed by cut and cover method. The structural work at Phoolbagan station have been completed but this station will be inaugurated only in beginning of 2019 not along with rest of stations in Phase 1. Sealdah station which was supposed to be part of phase 1 is no longer part of phase 1 as this station can only be opened once the TBM from the other side reaches Sealdah (Inauguration date in 2020).
• Underground Tunnel for Phase 2: The section between Sealdah and Mahakaran station was realigned due to the objection of GoWB. Work at Howrah Maidan have started in March 2016. The section between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade station has been built by Afcons – Transtonnelstroy JV team, two tunnel boring machines from Herrenknecht are being used to dig the tunnel. This section passes through the river Hooghly for a distance of 520 meters. The section under the river is at a depth of 30 meters (roof to ground distance) whereas the average roof to ground distance is 17 meters. The Howrah station on the west side of the river will be at a depth of 30 meters. Tunnelling started from Howrah Maidan side. On 23 May one of the TBM named Rachna completed the tunneling under the Hoogly river in 36 days. The other TBM named Prerna also completed the tunnelling work under the river on 21 June 2017. There were some concerns during tunnelling under Brabourne road as the tunnel would pass within 100 meters of heritage structures and there were also many old and dilapidated buildings in this section. KMRC received permission from Archaeological Survey of India in June 2017. Residents and shops in the old building were temporarily shifted and the buildings were reinforced before construction of tunnel. Construction of tunnel till Mahakaran station was completed in November 2017. For the Mahakaran-Esplanade section tunnelling of one of the tunnel have been completed on 23 March 2018 the other tunnel have also been completed by April. In this sections also shops and residents of the buildings have been shifted in phased manner before tunnelling. The Esplanade - Sealdah section will be executed by ITD-ITD Cementation JV and is scheduled to start in May 2018.
• Underground Stations for Phase 2: Construction of Howrah Maidan station and Howrah Station Metro Station have started. At Esplanade the tram depot have been moved and work for construction of station have started. The Esplanade station will be intersection of three metro lines, this station have been designed by RITES. At Mahakaran existing bus stand have been moved to facilitate the construction of station by cut and cover method. Due to closure tram routes at Esplanade and Mahakaran several tram routes had to be stopped.
• Train Depot: Construction, electrical and mechanical work have been completed.

After multiple delays the Phase-I have been scheduled to be opened in October 2018.

Timelines

• 2009: KMRC awards rolling stock contract to Spain’s Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).
• 2009: Contract for building the overground stations and viaduct awarded to Gammon and Simplex Infrastructure.
• 2009: Contract for building the underground section from Subhash Sarabor to Central Station awarded to ITD-ITD Cementation JV.
• 2009: Physical Construction of EW corridor starts.
• 2010: Contract for building the underground section from Central to Howrah Maidan awarded to Afcons.
• 2012: Realignment proposed to avoid shifting of 80 families from Bowbazar and hawkers from Brabourne Road.
• 2014: CAF pulls away from KMRC rolling stock contract due to cost escalation.
• 2015: Realignment approved by Railways and JICA in between Sealdah to Howrah station.
• 2015: Subodh Mullick Square station, a key stop in the revised blueprint, done away with to avoid eviction of hawkers.
• 2015: Complete elevated tracks other than 365 meters at Duttabad ready.
• 2016-Feb: Rolling stock contract for 14 rakes having 6 coaches awarded to BEML.
• 2017-Jan: Structural and Roofing work of all elevated stations completed.
• 2017-March: Work starts at 365 meters of elevated section at Duttabad after resettlement of affected household. Elevated section is to be made of steel girders.
• 2017-March: Afcons nicknames the tunnel boring machine as Prerna and Rachna inspired from the names of daughter of their employee.
• 2017-May 23: First TBM completes tunneling the East bound tunnel under the Hoogly river.
• 2017-June 21: Second TBM completes tunneling the West bound tunnel under the river Hoogly.
• 2017-June: Permission received from Archaeological Survey of India for construction of tunnel within 100 meters of three heritage buildings.
• 2017-July: Tram depot at Esplanade shifted to facilitate construction of Metro Station.
• 2017-July: People from 11 buildings in Brebourne Road evacuated in phased manner when the TBM's passes below these old buildings.
• 2017-August: Mini-bus stand at Mahakaran shifted to facilitate the construction of underground station.
• 2017-September: Panasonic Manufacturing and Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric have been awarded contract of platform screen door on all 12 stations.
• 2017-October: 365 m of elevated section at Duttabad completed using steel girders.
• 2017-December: Tunnelling between Mahakaran station and Esplanade station on going.
• 2017-December: KMRC declares first phase to be in between Sector V and Salt Lake Stadium instead of Phoolbagan to be inaugurated in June 2018.
• 2018-January: Demo coach arrives at Salt Lake Metro Depot. People question its use.
• 2018-February 12: Metro general manager Mr. Ajay Vijayvargiya again postpones opening of first phase from June to September 2018.
• 2018-February: Constantly KMRC and Railways have postponed the opening of Phase 1 (now new deadline is before October 2018) and truncated the route for Phase 1 from Sealdah to Phoolbagan and now only till Salt lake Sec V.
• 2018-March 23: First TBM named Prerna reaches Esplanade station completing the section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade. This tunnel will be used by Howrah bound tunnel.
• 2018-Mar 31: BEML delivers first metro train set to KMRC. The train sets to arrive in 20 days. Second train set will be delivered in the end of April.
• 2018-Apr 5: Second TBM completes boring of second tunnel between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade station.
• 2018-Ap 20: First metro rake arrives at Salt Lake Depot. .
• 2018-May 1: The second metro rake from BEML arrives.
• 2018-June 20: First test ride inside depot starts..
• 2018-June 27: Work at Esplanade Sealdah tunnel drilling stalled due to existing steel structure in North South Line.
• 2018-July 4: First trial run between Central Park and Sector V. .
• 2018-Aug 30: Installation of Platform Screen Doors started in Karunamoyee and Central Park stations.

List of stations (East to West)

Line 2 (East West Corridor)
No.	Station Name		Location	Opening	Connections	Layout	Coordinates	Notes
	English	Bengali
1	Salt Lake Sector V	সল্ট লেক সেক্টর V	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	Kolkata Metro Line 6 (Under Construction)	Elevated	22°34′52″N 88°25′44″E	Also known as IT hub of Kolkata
2	Karunamoyee metro	করুণাময়ী	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	None	Elevated	22°35′12″N 88°25′17″E	International bus terminus
3	Central Park	সেন্ট্রাল পার্ক	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	None	Elevated
4	City Center-1	সিটি সেন্টার	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	None	Elevated		near Bidhannagar College
5	Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceuticals	বেঙ্গল কেমিক্যালস	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	None	Elevated
6	Salt Lake Stadium	সল্ট লেক স্টেডিয়াম	Bidhannagar	Under Construction	None	Elevated		largest stadium in India
7	Phoolbagan	ফুলবাগান	Phoolbagan	Under Construction	None	Underground
8	Sealdah	শিয়ালদহ	Sealdah	Under Construction	Sealdah railway station(Indian Railways)	Underground		change for local suburb trains and national trains
9	Esplanade	এসপ্ল্যানেড	Dharmatala	Under Construction	Kolkata Metro Line 1   Kolkata Metro Line 3	Underground		Also Known as Dharmatala (ধর্মতলা)
10	Mahakaran	মহাকরণ	B. B. D. Bagh	Under Construction	None	Underground		Also known as B. B. D. Bagh
11	Howrah Station	হাওড়া স্টেশন	Howrah	Under Construction	Howrah Station(Indian Railways)	Underground		change for local and national trains.
12	Howrah Maidan	হাওড়া ময়দান	Howrah	Under Construction	None	Underground

Infrastructure

Stations

Karunamoyee Metro Station Under Construction - 3rd Avenue, Salt Lake City, Kolkata

All the stations in this line will be equipped with Platform Screen Doors to keep people away from the tracks. 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.

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.

Rolling stock

CAF in collaboration with Melco was to supply 14 trains for this line. The 14 rakes were acquired at a cost of approximately €110m ₹6 billion (US$72 million). Each rake will compose of 6 coaches having a capacity of 2068 people per train. 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 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. The contract for providing the rakes have been awarded to BEML. 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.

Environmental Impact

The elevated section that has been constructed at SaltLake( Bidhannagar) was earlier flanked with trees at the central meridian. All the trees have been felled for the purpose of building the elevated viaduct. There has been no report if adequate re-plantation have been done to compensate the felling of trees. The Central park train depot have come up in Central Park, which was earlier a thickly wooded area. Almost 30% of Central Park which is the lungs of the eastern park of the city have been occupied for building the train depot. Other parts of central park have been used to create cricket and football sports centre, swimming pool, bus stand, fair ground, underground water storage facility and most appalling a convention hall.

Proposed Extensions

The West Bengal government have proposed an extension to the East-West metro line. In this proposal the East West Metro will be connected to the Airport Garia Metro near Haldiram stoppage. According to this proposal the East West Metro will have 3 terminating stations at Howrah Maidan, Sector V and the proposed Haldiram station. At Haldiram it will be connected to the Airport-Garia metro route and interconnection facilities will be present. The extension and the present route will converge at the Central Park Station. The proposed extension is under study and it will need several clearances before being implemented. A 10 km East-West Metro extension project from Howrah Maidan to Santragachi bus terminus has been proposed. Rites, the implementing agency for this project, is set to start work on the corridor early in 2017.

Clogging of drains in Howrah due to silt excavated and discharge of untreated waste water have been reported.

See also

• Kolkata Metro
• List of Kolkata metro stations
• Kolkata Metro Rolling Stock
• List of rapid transit systems
• Trams in Kolkata
• Kolkata Lightrail
• Kolkata Monorail
• Kolkata Suburban Railway

External links

• Official Website for line 2