Kolkata Metro Pink Line: People await timely completion after KMC NOC

Kolkata, Aug 25 (IANS) With nearly all major hurdles cleared, people in Kolkata’s northern suburbs are now hoping for timely completion of the Metro Railway’s Pink Line from Baranagar to Barrackpore.

“We have been waiting for over 10 years now. However, no progress has been made till now. Hopefully, work will start soon. This will be of great help to students and working professionals, particularly women, who have to use Eastern Railway’s suburban services or road transport on the congested B T Road to reach Kolkata now,” Bikash Roy, a resident of Barrackpore, said.

On Monday, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to close the legacy 48‑inch drinking water pipeline that runs below B T Road. This was holding up construction work of the 12.40 km metro stretch that will be constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL). The agency has already sought bids to construct a viaduct over the B T Road and 10 stations for the stretch. The contract will be worth nearly Rs 1,587.39 crore, and the last date for bid submission is September 29, 2026.

Despite a proposal to replace the old pipeline with a new 72‑inch pipeline, the previous government in West Bengal was not keen to close the existing one.

“The ball is in the Metro Railway’s court now. We wish to see timely completion of this project. Not only will this reduce travel time to Kolkata, but the journey will be much more comfortable. This link will also promote the creation of more businesses around the B T Road. People from Kolkata can commute comfortably to companies that come up here,” Biplab Mukherjee, a resident of Agarpara, said.

The Barrackpore–Titagarh belt and locations on both sides of B T Road have been a traditional industrial zone close to Kolkata. Heavy industries like Titagarh Wagons and Texmaco exist along the B T Road. A CESC power generation plant also operates in Titagarh. Locals are upbeat that the Metro Railway clearance will pave the way for further industrial growth.

“The new government has promised a lot. It should concentrate on more industries in this area, now that it is getting connected to the city. We hope to see an overall development along both sides of the B T Road,” Sagnik Majumdar, a resident of Barrackpore, said.

While West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has welcomed the KMC’s move to grant the NOC, he said it will be his responsibility to ensure no more hurdles come up. The government and local civic bodies have already begun clearing encroachments on either side of the B T Road to ensure free traffic flow when construction work starts.

The Pink Line will have stations at Kamarhati, Agarpara, Sodepur, Panihati, Subhas Nagar, Khardah, Tata Gate, Titagarh, Talpukur and Barrackpore.

–IANS

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