Much touted LRTS in trouble

The much-awaited Kolkata Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) project, an air-conditioned elevated mass transport connecting Kolkata’s Southern suburbs with the Northern fringes via the central business hub, seems to be in troubled waters.

Srei Infrastructure Finance-led consortium has decided to drop the first half of the project from Joka to BBD Bag, after a request by the state government that one portion of the project should be given to Indian Railways.

“In November last year, the West Bengal government had requested us that one portion of the project should be given to the railways.

In the December board meeting, the joint venture company had decided not to object to the state’s move,” Hemant Kanoria, Chairman and Managing Director of Srei, said on the sidelines of an infrastructure seminar organised by IPFonline in Kolkata today.

West Bengal commerce and industry minister, Nirupam Sen, said, that the decision was at the behest of Railways. “There was a proposal from the Railways.”

Earlier, the project was planned for a 40-kilometer stretch, between Joka in the extreme south to Barrakpore in the northern fringes with two corridors. The joint venture was between the state government and Srei and a special purpose vehicle, Kolkata Mass Rapid Transit Ltd, was formed to execute the project. The total cost was pegged at Rs 6000 crore.

However, the company is yet to decide on the second half of the project between BBD Bag to Barrackpore. “We will decide about the second half soon. However, the company is thinking about approaching the Railways for a compensation, as we have already invested a substantial amount on the project,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Srei chairman said that with half the project cut short, the total cost expected for the second stretch is around Rs 3,000 crore.

“It is upon the state government and the Indian Railways to decide whether they want an LRT in the first stretch or will have a metro extension,” he added.”

The Presidnet of India, Pratibha Patil, had laid the foundation stone for the Kolkata Metro Railway's stretch between Joka and BBD Bag in September. The route, via Majherhat, will cover a total area of 16.72 kilometres with 13 stations. The estimated cost of the project is about Rs 2619.02 crore.