Months after Railways turned down West Bengal government's proposal for change in the proposed route of East West Metro, RITES, a public sector company formed under the aegis of Indian Railways, has suggested realignment of the project for better integration between the exiting and the new metro.
RITES, which was engaged by the West Bengal government, to carry out a feasibility study for the new route, in its report has favoured a change in route of the upcoming metro.
“RITES report clearly says for better integration, the metro project should be realigned. Hopefully, now Railways would consider state government's demand for change in route,” a government official said.
According to sources, the proposed changes in route will cover an additional distance of 1.5 Km in central Kolkata area. The plan is to avoid the Central station, as was originally proposed. Instead the metro will take the Esplande tram depot -- Dalhousie route.
Since West Bengal government is no longer a stake holder in KMRC, chief secretary Sanjay Mitra has recently forwarded the RITES report to Railway Board chairman.
KMRC, was originally a joint venture between the Union urban development ministry and the West Bengal government, for developing the East West metro project that will connect Salt Lake to Howrah. Currently, Indian Railways owns 74% stake in the project, while Union urban development ministry holds 26%.
Earlier, Centre turned down state government's proposal for realignment citing cost escalation. Also, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding 45% of the the project cost as a loan to KMRC, too opposed the idea.
However, a state government official claimed that RITES in its feasibility report said the realignment would incur an additional cost of Rs 157 crore.
“There will be no major cost escalation. In fact, the report says, realignment would require less land,” the official said.