KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the Kolkata metro extension from Noapara to Dakshineswar on the North-South line.
Earlier, PM Modi had termed this project special and stated, “It has now become very easy for devotees to visit the Kali temples at Kalighat and Dakshineswar.”
“It will also help devotees to reach Kalighat and Dakshineswar easily. People from Dakshineswar will be able to reach Kavi Subhash or New Garia within one hour while the distance by road can be covered in two-and-a-half hours. Students, office-goers and labourers will be benefited hugely from this facility,” said PM Modi.
He flagged off the first train virtually from Noapara to Dakshineswar in the 4.1 km stretch of the north-south corridor, built at a cost of Rs 464 crores.
The stretch comprises two stations, namely Baranagar and Dakshineswar. The stations are aesthetically structured and decked with murals, photographs, sculptures and idols.
According to the Kolkata railway metro authorities, the stretch would assist approximately 50,000 commuters traveling to and from between the city and its adjoining districts of North 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly daily.
Installed with Siemens’ Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), the system is based on the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level-1. Its delivery from Germany was put off due to COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions last year.
The line’s 750 V DC Third Rail system was strengthened with energy on November 30, 2020, and its trial runs (testing) started on December 23, 2020. Earlier this month, the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) certified the line suitable for operations after evaluating for two days.
PM Modi also paved the way for the third line between Kalaikunda and Jhargram. He attributed the nation for the doubling of Azimganj to Khagraghat Road section, the fourth line between Dankuni andBaruipara and the third line between Rasulpur and Magra.
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar also attended the inaugural ceremony.
