After three years into construction, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation’s (KMRC) East-West corridor project may see a change in the proposed route. The West Bengal government has decided to rope in RITES to carry out a feasibility study for the new route, which envisages to cover an additional distance of 1.5 Km in central part of the city.
KMRC, a joint venture between the Union urban development ministry and the West Bengal government, is developing the Rs 4,874-crore East-West Metro project connecting Salt Lake to Howrah.
The construction work began in 2009 from the Salt Lake-end. Now, after three years into the project, West Bengal government is understood to have suggested some changes in the route, that may lead to significant cost-escalation as well as delay in commissioning of the project.
“There is a proposal from the state government to make changes in East-West Metro route. We need to carry out a feasibility study before we take a decision. The idea is to reach out to larger number of commuters,” an official close to the development said.
The state government wants RITES to look into the feasibility of the new route and a notification is likely to be issued in this regard in a few days.
“We have not yet received any direction officially. But, yes there is such a proposal to make some changes in the route (of East-West corridor) and RITES will carry out the feasibility study for the same,” RITES project coordinator DC Mitra told Business Standard in response to a query on the same. 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 it was originally proposed. Instead the metro will take the Esplande tram depot -- Dalhousie route.
“If the changes take place the length of the track will be about 16 Km. The change of route will attract more commuters and will be more prfitable, ” said a government official. In the present route map, the length of the track is 14.58 Km.
The changed route will see an additional station in the central Kolkata area, taking the total number of station to 13 from 12 stations in the present map.
Although, KMRC Managing director Subrata Gupta refused to comment on the matter, sources say, the change of route may result in a significant increase in project cost as acquisition process already started in the central Kolkata area as per the original route map. Some buildings were also vacated alongside the original route.
Also, this may lead to a significant delay in commissioning of the east-west corridor. As per the original schedule, the line was slated to be completed by October, 2014. Recently, KMRC has announced July, 2016 as revised date of completion following land acquisition problems and dillydally over ownership issues. Officials believe, if there is a change in route now, KMRC might as well struggle to meet even the 2016 deadline.
Meawhile, both the state government and union urban ministry which have 30 per cent and 25 per cent stake in the project, will be handing over their shares to the Railways, which is operating the existing metro services in the city. The rest of the 45 per cent of the total project cost was taken as loan by KMRC from Japanese Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC). Two committees were also formed in September last year to work out the modalities for the handing over the project, but the transfer of stakes to Railways is yet to take place.
Officials say, the funding of corridor could be jeopardised if the ownership is changed as the loan from JBIC needs to be re-negotiated.
