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Kolkata Metro Railway
History:
To mitigate the growing problem of transport within the Metropolis of Kolkata, it was envisioned to construct an underground mass rapid transport system in Kolkata. Being first of its kind in India, it took many years to survey and plan the project which finally began in 1972 with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laying the foundation stone. It was completed in 1995 after surmounting many hurdles and challenges over several phases. The first phase of 3.04 km was completed in 1984 which was also inaugurated by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and opened for public use. As work was completed progressively, the completed segments were open for public use.
Pride of Kolkata, the Kolkata Metro Railway is the first underground railway and also the first metro rail in India and the 5th in Asia. Extending over 16 kms. with seventeen stations in between that are approximately 1 km apart, Kolkata Metro plies from Kolkata’s north; Dum Dum near Kolkata’s International Airport (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport )and the busy Tollygunj area of Kolkata now extended to New Garia in the south. Now Kolkata Metro has 23 operational stations several of them underground and some elevated. Kolkata Metro has been promoted and developed by the Ministry of Railways, Govt. of India who also operates this North-South Line.
Present Status
According to Kolkata Metro plan four more lines will be developed, the first of this expansion, the East-West line will be developed by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation. The KMRC is also directly under the Ministry of Railways. The East- West line will commence from Salt Lake Sector 5 in the east to Howrah Maidan in the West with 12 stations between. The line will run 100 ft under the Hooghly River between Mahakaran and Hooghly stations making this the first under water metro in India. This line will be fully operational by 2014.
The other lines are also under construction and are to be completed in the very near future. This will be a dream come true for the Kolkata inhabitants.
Additional Benefits of Metro Rail
Apart from alleviating the commuting woes of the Kolkatans, the Kolkata Metro has contributed substantially to the National Exchequer as well as the general well-being of Kolkata over thirty years. Most of these benefits cannot be quantified. However, studies and analysis have given the following benefits that have been computed
- Reduced traffic congestion by avoidance of new buses : Rs. 2391 Crores
- Reduced traffic congestion by avoidance of other vehicles : Rs.5788 Crores
- Savings in vehicle operating costs: Rs.6977 Crores
- Saving in travelling time Rs. 25,884 Crores
- Saving due to reduction in the number of accidents Rs. 4360 Crores
- Considerable reduction of noise and air pollution