East-West Metro full run from Sector V to Howrah Maidan likely by June 2024

The East-West Metro project in Kolkata, will be fully operational by May or June 2024, according to R.N. Sunkar, a member of the infrastructure division of the Railway Board. Sunkar made the announcement on Sunday after inspecting the Sealdah-Esplanade section and the Bowbazar cave-in zone. He confirmed that the 2.5km Sealdah-Esplanade section will be ready for empty train rakes by December this year, following a successful trolley inspection of the under-river stretch.

The Sealdah-Esplanade section is crucial for the much-awaited under-river run, and operations along the 4.8km Esplanade-Howrah Maidan stretch. Sunkar stated that completing the section was mandatory, saying, "This is the only stretch which is creating problems. If we are not through with this patch, we will not be able to take the cars (rakes) to Howrah Maidan. Once this construction is ready by December, we will be able to take rakes (from the Salt Lake Central Park depot) to Howrah Maidan."

The East-West Metro project currently runs 9.4km from Sector V to Sealdah, but is stalled at the next 2.5km section from Sealdah to Esplanade due to repeated incidents of subsidence. "The challenges in the 2.5km Sealdah-Esplanade section are being overcome, and strengthening work is on," Sunkar said. He stated that it would take an additional five to six months to run train services in the troubled zone after December, and once that section is completed, the entire 16.6km line from Sector V to Howrah Maidan will be operational.

Sunkar's inspection follows the recent launch of East-West Metro's first underwater train run on Wednesday. Tests of the 4.8km Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section via the Hooghly River have now begun. On Sunday, two BEML rakes were pushed by a battery-driven locomotive through the unfinished section from Sealdah to Esplanade station. "We will start operations of the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section by December," Sunkar confirmed.

Sunkar noted that contractors have resumed work in the troubled zone and that the water table is very high. He stated that work is being carried out systematically and arrangements have been made to support the strata and prevent collapse. Sunkar referred to the work required to link twin tunnels at Nirmal Chunder Street with the ventilation shaft at Subodh Mullick Square. "Even as Sealdah-Esplanade section will be ready by December, for start of services, some basic issues need to be cleared and all safety requirements will have to be fulfilled," Sunkar concluded.