Allot more, not reduce funds for Kolkata metro: Parl panel

The standing committee on railways has asked the transport behemoth to allocate more funds to the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) as it is the oldest running metro of the country and also caters to the needs of the congested city.
The committee headed by the Trinamool MP from Kolkata North, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, has said that the allocation to Kolkata metro has been revised downwards by almost 25 per cent from Rs 1,937 crore at BE (budget estimate) 2017-2018 to Rs 1,500 crore at RE (revised estimate)2017-2018.
Further, the budgetary allocation for the year 2018-2019 has been kept at Rs 1,100 crore, which is Rs 400 crore lower than RE 2017-2018.

"In this regard we strongly opine that more fund should be allocated to KMRCL as it is not only the oldest running metro in the country but also caters to the needs of growing population of the largest city of Eastern India (which) is faced with acute congestion on roads...," the report which was tabled in both Houses of Parliament today said.
The committee said that since the Kolkata metro was owned by the Railways, it was imperative for the railways to provide sufficient funds to it.
It recommended that instead of reducing fund allocation to KMRCL, the ministry should enhance the funding so that all the undergoing works and projects are completed within stipulated time frame without any time and cost escalation.

"Once completed, operationalized Metro lines will start paying off the railways' incurred cost as they will run in remunerative parts of the city," the report said.