Green signal for metro station near heritage structures in Kolkata

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has given clearance for constructing a station of the East West Metro (EWM) project near three protected monuments, an official of the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (KMRC) said on Wednesday.

The ASI had asked the KMRC, the project's executing agency, to carry out an archaeological impact assessment for undertaking construction of the metro station within the prohibited zone of the Currency Building, Magen David synagogue and Beth-el synagogue here.

The long-delayed EWM corridor will connect the neighbouring Howrah district with Kolkata via the Hooghly river.

"The ASI regional director has sent a letter on Wednesday to the National Monuments Authority (NMA) member-secretary regarding the clearance. We are now awaiting NMA's nod as it will give us the no-objection certificate," B. Dewanjee, Chief Engineer (Civil), KMRC, told IANS.

He said a team from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur conducted the assessment and submitted its final report last week.

The NMA, functioning under the Ministry of Culture, was set up under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010.

Its responsibilities include grant of permission for construction-related activities in prohibited and regulated area.

The proposed station is within the prohibited 100-metre zone of the three heritage structures near the city business hub.

--IANS

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