Kolkata Metro hopeful of resolving issues

The Joka-BBD Bag metro rail project in the West Bengal capital that had run into land acquisition issues may be completed in three years following "fruitful talks" with the ministries of defence and finance which raised objections, a top metro official said here on Wednesday.

A 16.72-km-long metro line connecting Joka on the southern fringes of the city with BBD Bagh in central Kolkata was announced by then railways minister Mamata Banerjee in 2010-11.

While work began in 2011, it ran into hurdles following objections from various quarters, including the army and the union finance ministry, among others.

Participating in an MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry event, Metro Railway general manager Radhey Shyam said the issues with the army and the finance ministry were likely to be resolved.

"Talks both with the ministry of defence and finance have been going on. So far the talks have been fruitful. We are hopeful of resolving the issues," he said.

Refusing to give a time frame about the issues being sorted out, Radhey Shyam said the projected would be completed by three years once the issues are resolved.

The problem area has been between Mominpur and Esplanade where the land belongs to the army.

While the union finance ministry objected to a proposed viaduct in front of the mint in Alipore, "we are hopeful all the issues will be resolved," he said.