Kolkata Metro Railway: City’s Pride

Kolkata Metro

The 1st underground railway network to be set up in India was the Kolkata Metro Railway, which started its operations in the month of October, in 1984. Run by Indian Railways, the Kolkata metro has been given the zonal railway status. The New Delhi Metro Railway, which commenced functioning in the year 2002, is the 2nd urban metro railway network in the country. In contrast to the Delhi Metro System, which saw the involvement of several international consultants, Kolkata Metro system was much more a trial and error process owing to the fact that it was for the first time that a railway network of this sort was being constructed in India. It therefore took almost 23 years to complete the 17km long underground railway.

At present the Kolkata Metro Network extends from DumDum to New Garia station. From 1972 to 2009, the metro railway in Kolkata underwent the construction process progressively. The Phase-I having a length of about 16.450 km, extending from   DumDum to Tollygunge (Mahanayak Uttam Kumar) was completed in the year 1995. The Phase-II having a length of 5.834 km, extending from Mahanayak Uttam Kumar to Kavi Nazrul station was completed in August, 2009. And finally the Phase-III, with a length of about 2.851 km, extending from Kavi Nazrul to New Garia station was completed shortly.

Presently, the Kolkata railway line runs from DumDum in north Kolkata and passing through Park Street and Esplanade in Central Kolkata and Tollyganj in the south, finally stops at Kavi Subhash station in New Garia.

History of Kolkata Metro Railway

The growing transport problem in the city of Kolkata absorbed the notice of the State Government, city planners and the Government of India. Very soon it was understood that in order to cope up with the transport problems in the city, something should be done immediately. The then West Bengal Chief Minister, Dr. B.C. Roy came up with an idea in the year 1949, that would offer relief to the people from the troubled situation, to a major extent. The idea was of an Underground Railway system for the people of Kolkata. With the desire to alleviate the Kolkatans from the suffering, the Metropolitan Transport Project (Railways) came up in the year 1969, whereby it was decided that a Mass Rapid Transit System would be constructed. In 1971, the MTP (Railways) came up with a plan for the construction of 5 rapid transit tracks in Kolkata with a route length of 97.5km. Smt. Indira Gandhi led the foundation stone of this project on 29th December, 1972, while the construction work commenced in 1973-74. Facing and overcoming numerous problems such as unavailability of funds, court injunctions, irregular and improper supply of materials and many more, finally the “Kolkata Metro- City’s Pride” came up as a reality to all, on 24th October, 1984, leaving behind all the obstacles of disbelief.

Initially Calcutta Metro started with partial services covering 3.40 km of distance and 5 stations in between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. This was soon followed by passenger services in the north from Dum Dum to Belgachia on a 2.15 km long track. The service was later extended till Tollygunge that would cover 4.24 km of distance and the total network had 11 stations. Several stretches of network came after in order to make the metro dream of the city come true. On 27th September, services for the entire stretch commenced.

  • Esplanade – Bhowanipur (Netaji Bhaban) (3.4 km): 24th October, 1984
  • Dum Dum – Belgachhia (2.15 km): 12th November, 1984
  • Bhowanipur (Netaji Bhaban) – Tollygunge (Mahanayak Uttam Kumar) (4.25 km): 29th April, 1986
  • Dum Dum – Shyambazar (3.8 km): 13th August, 1994
  • Esplanade – Chandni Chowk (0.7 km): 2nd October, 1994
  • Shyambazar – Girish Park (1.9 km) and Chandni Chowk – Central (0.6 km): 19th February, 1995
  • Central – Girish Park (1.8 km): 27th September, 1995
  • Mahanayak Uttamkumar-Kavi Nazrul, 5.85 km: 22nd August, 2009
  • Kavi Nazrul-Kavi Subhash (3 km) : 7th October, 2010:

Metro Stations

  • Dum Dum
  • Belgachhia
  • Shyambazar
  • Shobhabazar-Sutanuti
  • Girish Park
  • Mahatma Gandhi Road
  • Central
  • Chandni Chowk
  • Esplanade
  • Park Street
  • Maidan
  • Rabindra Sadan
  • Netaji Bhavan (Previously called Bhowanipore)
  • Jatin Das Park
  • Kalighat
  • Rabindra Sarobar
  • Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Previously called Tollygunge)
  • Netaji
  • Masterda Surya Sen
  • Gitanjali
  • Kavi Nazrul
  • Shahid Khudiram
  • Kavi Subhash

Future Plans of Kolkata Metro Railway

A lot of future plans and projects are in the pipeline for the Kolkata Metro, waiting to happen and make their presence felt! There will be an extension from Dumdum to Dakshineswar passing through Noapara and Baranagar. It will run across the Eastern railway Line already existing. This metro extension is expected to benefit the people of Hoogly, North 24-Parganas and Kolkata. It will link the Eastern Railway at DumDum, also.

Extension from Noapara to Barasat: The up metro track from Noapara to Barasat will cross through Ramakrishna Palli and Santinagar while the down track will cross through DumDum Cantonment and Jessore Road prior to its meeting with the Up track at Biman Bandar station. From Biman Bandar station both the lines will run parallel along National Highway- 34 upto Nawali Khal and would gradually descent over Nawali Khal prior to reaching Madhyam Gram. From Madhyam Gram till Barasat the metro track would run on the surface. This extension would help those residing in North 24- Parganas, immensely.

Extension from Noapara to Barrackpur: This extension will be mostly over ground and would run along the Eastern Railway main line, already existing. Not only would the people of North 24 Parganas benefit from this but the people of Nadia will also find it beneficial.

East – West Metro

East- West Metro is a project that would connect Kolkata to Howrah through an underwater metro track. The length of the track would be approximately 14.67 km of which 8.9 km would be underground and the remaining 5.77 km would be elevated. This metro line will be set up, maintained and controlled by a different body called Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation or KMRC. This metro route would cover 12 stations. The foundation stone for the project was laid down on February 22, 2009 and the construction commenced in March 2009. The project is estimated to be complete by 31st October, 2014.

The East-West Metro will go from Sector 5, Salt Lake, in the east to Howrah Maidan. Air conditioned trains would serve the commuters. The stations underground will be replete with platform screen doors. The proposed metro stations are:

  • Salt Lake Sector 5
  • Karunamoyee Housing Estate
  • Central Park
  • City Center
  • Bengal Chemical Office
  • Yuva Bharati Krirangan
  • Phoolbagan
  • Sealdah Station
  • Central (that would cross with line 1)
  • Mahakaran
  • Howrah Station
  • Howrah Maidan