Kolkata is set to receive a significant boost ahead of Durga Puja. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate three new metro sections in the city on Friday, which will not only enhance connectivity but also benefit millions of commuters daily.
Kolkata: Kolkata, the city that pioneered metro services in India in 1984, is now poised to create a new milestone in its metro network. Ahead of Durga Puja next month, Kolkata residents will receive three new metro sections. Before the Assembly elections scheduled for next year in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate three new metro sections in Kolkata on Friday, all in a single day.
The total length of these sections is approximately 14 kilometers. Additionally, during his Kolkata visit, PM Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several infrastructure projects worth over ₹5200 crore, including the three metro routes.
Three New Metro Routes
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for various infrastructure projects, including the three metro routes on this occasion. These three routes include:
- Green Line – Esplanade (Dharmatala) to Sealdah
- Yellow Line – Noapara to Jai Hind Aerodrome (Kolkata Airport)
- Orange Line – Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing) to Beleghata
These projects will benefit over 9.15 lakh passengers daily, making access to various areas of the city easier than ever before.
East-West Metro and Howrah-Sealdah Connectivity
Once the Esplanade to Sealdah section of the East-West Metro becomes operational, Howrah to Sealdah can be reached in just 9 minutes. Travel from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector-5 will now take only 30 minutes, compared to the current road travel time of one and a half to two hours. In addition, India's first underwater metro between Howrah-Metro Hub and Salt Lake Sector-5 (IT Hub) will be fully operational. This will ensure seamless connectivity between Howrah, Sealdah, Salt Lake Sector-5, and Kolkata Airport.
Prime Minister Modi will commence the program from the newly constructed Jessore Road station near Dum Dum in the evening and dedicate these metro projects. Following this, PM Modi will travel from Jessore Road to Jai Hind Aerodrome Metro Station. Simultaneously, he will lay the foundation stone for the upgraded corridor of the 7.2-kilometer-long Kona Expressway connecting Howrah-Kolkata at Dum Dum Central Jail Maidan. Subsequently, the PM will address a public gathering.
New Facility for Kolkata Passengers
The Kolkata Metro administration claims that the launch of these projects will provide significant time and convenience benefits to the people of the metropolis and surrounding suburban areas.
- Improved connectivity between Howrah, Sealdah, Salt Lake Sector-5, and the airport
- Significant reduction in travel time
- Benefits to over 9.15 lakh passengers daily
- Easy, fast, and safe travel between the city and suburbs
Experts say that these metro projects will not only increase passenger convenience but also accelerate the economic progress of Kolkata and West Bengal. This is PM Modi's third visit to Bengal in the last four months. Earlier, he had visited Alipurduar on May 29 and Durgapur on July 18 for public meetings and the inauguration/foundation laying of projects worth thousands of crores.
