Defence ministry gives nod to underground Maidan Metro stretch

The Defence ministry has finally given primary approval to go underground on the Maidan stretch of the Joka-BBD Bag Metro route, ending years long dilly-dally over the proposed Rs 2,619-crore 16.75 km metro expansion project in Kolkata, promoted by Indian Railways.

The project, envisaged in 2010, hit a roadblock as Defence ministry opposed construction in its territory citing security and environment-related reasons. After a series of meeting at ministry level over the last one year, Railways has got the primary approval.

“Nearly 8 km of the journey through the defence land will be underground. The Rail Ministry has been in discussion with the Defence Ministry to get permission to begin the commissioning process on that stretch. We have now got primary approval from the Defence,” Protyush Gosh, deputy general manager of Kolkata Metro, said.

The route map for the project was finalised in January 2010, which was followed by the announcement of the expansion plan in the 2010-11 railway budget presented by then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee. While work is in progress for the first 8-km leg of the project from Joka to Taratola, railways could not even carry out the feasibility study for the remaing leg from Taratola to BBD Bag following stiff resistance from the Defence department which owns the land in the area.

Initially railways had proposed elevated tracks over the Maidan area. However, it altered the plan and decided to go underground as Defence authority pointed out an elevated track close to Fort William (headquarter of the eastern command of Indian army) would be security concern.

However, the decision to go underground could not end the deadlock, until recently Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy took up the matter with Defence Minister A K Antony.

Now, following the primary approval from the Defence authority, Rites will carry out the feasibility study along the prposed route. However, the feasibility study report will again be sent to Defence Ministry for the final nod, Gosh said.

After the final approval from Defence, Rail Vikash Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the contractor of the project, will go ahead with the tendering process.Also, the delay over defence approval has raised question over completion schedule. It will not be possible to make the enitre stretch opertaional at one go. “About 85 per cent work is done for the 8 km stretch from Joka to Taratola. This will be operational by 2013 end. For the second stretch we are just starting the feasibility study. If things run smoothly it will take four years to commission the project,” Gosh .