Kolkata Metro's New Garia-Airport Project Work On Halt Partially; Here's Why

Kolkata Metro’s New Garia-Airport Project Work On Halt Partially; Here’s Why

Kolkata Metro: The completion of the New Garia-Airport Metro project in Kolkata has encountered a hurdle, just 700 meters away from the airport. As the 29-kilometer Orange line project nears its final stage, the police have refused permission for traffic blocks on VIP Road due to the ongoing election season.

A scheduled traffic trial on Wednesday, intended to block a 30-meter by 1-meter area near Kaikhali crossing, was abruptly canceled. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) requires this space to launch the last 28-meter girder span before the line goes underground for approximately 800 meters. Urgent construction of diaphragm walls for the 300-meter ramp is also necessary. However, despite conducting week-long traffic trials since March 30, utilising a 60-meter by 10.5-meter road space created by RVNL, the police remain hesitant due to the heavy movement of VIPs in the pre-election period.

Explaining the cancellation, an officer stated, “Today’s trial was canceled because after barricading the site for Metro construction, only a 6-meter road space with two lanes would have remained for traffic movement.” A Railways official reassured, “RVNL has committed to ensuring a 10.5-meter-wide road for traffic.”

RVNL was granted the site on November 24 for four months, four nights a week, to launch 15 spans. However, a month was lost due to signal installation, and work was frequently halted at the request of the police for festivals and events. The Railways official explained, “Just as the girder launching is nearing completion, this last-minute obstacle has emerged. The interruption will also inconvenience the state administration, as the resumption of goods vehicle movement after the block is lifted will disrupt the entire traffic system.”

Additionally, complications have arisen between the police and RVNL regarding the construction of the 300-meter ramp. Despite conducting week-long trials until last Friday to facilitate the long-pending traffic block, which had been delayed for two years due to RVNL’s lack of access to airport land for creating road space, the police are now refusing the traffic block. RVNL has managed to establish a 60-meter by 10.5-meter, three-lane road space on the eastern side of VIP Road.

The police are requesting the continuation of the 250 traffic marshals deployed by RVNL during the girder launching between Haj House, 1.5 kilometers from the airport, and Kaikhali crossing for a year. This aligns with the timeline for completing the Metro’s final 800-meter stretch to the airport. “The deployment has been authorised by Delhi until June, allowing sufficient time for the construction of D-walls or guide walls for Metro shafts at the 60-meter by 10-meter site,” affirmed the official.