'No Fund Shortage For Kolkata Metro Projects', Says Railway Minister

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday (21 June) informed the media that there is no fund shortage for Kolkata Metro projects as the centre has allocated enough funds for it.

The central government has been monitoring the progress of works of all Metro projects minutely, he said while visiting the Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch of East-West Metro (Green Line).

While inspecting the Howrah Maidan Metro station, the Railway Minister enquired about the state-of-the-art passenger amenities that are going to be provided here.

After completing the inspection of Howrah Maidan station, he undertook a trolley inspection through the tunnel and reached Howrah station, which is slated to be the deepest Metro station in India.

This Metro station has been built 33 m below the surface and has four underground levels over an area of 5 lakh sq ft. Once commissioned, this station is going to be the gateway of Kolkata apart from Sealdah Metro station which has already been commissioned.

Railway Minister also inspected the under-river tunnel which has been built 16 m below the Hooghly river .

Terming it as an engineering marvel, Vaishnaw expressed his happiness seeing the progress of work and hoped that East-West Metro will soon provide the ultimate transportation solution to the people of a busy and congested city like Kolkata.

Vaishnaw completed his inspection at Esplanade and expressed his hope that this 4.8-km-long stretch of East-West Metro from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will be opened for general public by December 2023 after the inspection of Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Interacting with the media persons at Howrah Maidan Metro station he has categorically informed that all the Metro projects in the city have been allocated enough funds and that the central government has been monitoring the progress of works of all Metro projects minutely.

All senior officers of Metro Railway, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited were present during this visit of the Railway Minister.