- By Shibra Siddiqui
- Wed, 30 Apr 2025 04:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kolkata East-West Metro News: Kolkata Metro has received long-awaited authorisation to begin operation crucial Esplanade–Sealdah stretch of the East-West Metro Corridor. The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) approved the corridor on Monday, making the operation of the complete 16.6 KM long Green Line from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V possible.
According to the Times of India, quoting sources, the BEML-made rakes are being upgraded with the new software that will help run the entire 16.6 km stretch.
The East-West Corridor connects two of India’s busiest railheads—Howrah and Sealdah, reducing the travel time significantly and decongesting the roads. The 2.6 KM long underground stretch between Esplanade and Sealdah underwent an extensive safety and technical inspection.
Kolkata East-West Metro: Underground Stretch To Start Soon
Carved beneath one of Kolkata’s oldest and highly populated areas, the stretch had remained incomplete due to complex geotechnical conditions, especially in the subsidence-prone Bowbazar locality.
The corridor now runs in two sections — the 9.4 km Sector V-Sealdah or Green Line 1 and the 4.8 km Esplanade-Howrah Maidan or Green Line 2. The 2.6 stretch between Esplanade-Sealdah will connect two disjointed points. The East-West Metro will work as the Green Line.
The inspection team concluded that the corridor meets all safety and performance benchmarks necessary for passenger service.
During the safety audit, senior officials rigorously assessed the corridor’s structural integrity, fire and ventilation system, track alignment, signalling technologies, and emergency response protocols. Speed trials were conducted at 80 kilometres per hour to stimulate real-time operation.
Last year, the authorities decided to skip the Esplanade-Sealdah section because of slow work progress and had the 4.8 km Esplanade-Howrah Maidan commissioned by PM Narendra Modi on March 6.
