The New Garia-Ruby Metro stretch, part of the New Garia-airport corridor in southeast Kolkata, was supposed to have been operational by the end of February. But almost a week into March, there is still no word on when the commercial run on the 5.4km stretch would start.
The traffic curbs at the intersection of EM Bypass and Prince Anwar Shah Road Connector, in place for close to two years for the Metro project, continue to force motorists to take a detour.
The stretch was inspected by the commissioner of railway safety (CRS), North Frontier Circle, on January 30. The CRS approval came on February 7 but with some recommendations.
“The modifications the CRS had asked for before the start of the commercial run have been done. A compliance report will be sent to the CRS. A date will then be sought from the Railway Board to start the commercial run,” said an official who did not want to be named.
“There were some issues regarding the fire safety mechanism, especially at Satyajit Ray station (near Hiland Park). They have been resolved. The station has received an NOC from the fire (and emergency services) department,” the official said.
The CRS wanted to know the safety protocol till electronic interlocking is commissioned on the stretch, said another official. Interlocking means an arrangement of signals and points, operated from a panel, meant to prevent conflicting train movements.
“Till the interlocking work is complete at New Garia station, trains will run on only one side of the stretch — the Ruby-bound tracks. But finishing the interlocking work will take time. The beginning of the commercial runs should not be delayed for that,” the official said.
Even when the commercial run starts, the stretch will see only one train completing one leg of the journey and then coming back, like on the Joka-Taratala stretch. Two trains will not be able to run at the same time because of the absence of an advanced signalling system.
The traffic curbs around the intersection of the EM Bypass near Avishikta are still a problem for motorists driving through the Prince Anwar Shah Road connector and headed towards Garia. Those arriving on the Bypass via the connector have to turn left and drive for some distance before taking a U-turn.
The barriers that prevent a right turn from the Avishikta crossing are still very much in place. An officer in the traffic department said police had asked the railway authorities to take multiple steps before the barriers were lifted.
“A canal passes under the culvert across the road. Some parts of the canal are exposed and the road surface needs mending. The area also needs adequate signage. Lastly, a heap of construction material needs to be cleared before the barriers are lifted,” the officer said.
Once the stretch becomes operational commercially, New Garia (Kavi Subhas) will be the first Metro station to serve as a transit point between two Metro corridors — the Blue Line (between New Garia and Dakshineswar) and the curtailed part of the Orange Line (between New Garia and the airport).
In his observations, the CRS had also asked for seamless switchover of passengers between the two Metro routes.
“New Garia station is ready for smooth movement of passengers from one corridor to the other,” said an official.
“The New Garia-Ruby stretch is ready for the public. We have complied with the observations of the CRS,” said an official of RVNL, implementing agency of the Metro corridor.
“We are hopeful of being able to start commercial runs by this month,” said Kaushik Mitra, Metro Railway spokesperson.
