Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The construction of the 366-meter stretch of the Chingrighata Metro (Kolkata Metro)—a project that had remained stalled during the previous Trinamool regime—has now been completed. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the agency entrusted with the responsibility, had initiated the work to bridge the gap in the Metro alignment along the Bypass. For years, despite formulating comprehensive plans for the construction of a foot overbridge at the Beleghata Metro station, the Metro authorities were compelled to step back. However, following the change of government in the state, the Metro authorities have now taken a significant step forward in the project to bridge the gap along the Bypass and construct the much-needed overbridge.
Metro Authorities Commence Work on Beleghata Foot Overbridge
Following the change of power in the state—and with the cooperation of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government—RVNL has completed the pillar construction work for the Chingrighata Metro section. Now, the agency has embarked on the construction of the main eastern entrance to the Beleghata Metro station—specifically, a foot overbridge designed to facilitate easy access for the general public. As anticipated, the Kolkata Traffic Police has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) valid for 45 days to facilitate this specific project. According to sources within the Kolkata Metro authorities, pillars for the overbridge will be erected along the median strip situated between the north-bound and south-bound lanes of the Bypass prior to the construction of the Beleghata foot overbridge itself. Consequently, a section of at least 8 meters of the Bypass's south-bound lane will be cordoned off with barricades to facilitate this work. As a result, vehicular movement along this specific route will be regulated during this period, and vehicles will be required to take alternative routes to reach their destinations. The Kolkata Traffic Police has granted permission to this effect. A significant section of daily commuters has long argued that once the foot overbridge at Beleghata Metro station is constructed, passengers will be able to reach the station and board the Metro with much greater ease, thereby significantly alleviating their daily hardships. It is worth noting that during the tenure of the previous ruling party, a 366-meter stretch of the Metro corridor—spanning from Metropolitan to Sector V within the larger New Garia-Airport corridor—had remained incomplete. To facilitate the completion of this project, both RVNL and the Kolkata Metro authorities had repeatedly submitted requests to the administration for traffic blocks. However, it is alleged that despite these repeated appeals, the administration at the time allowed this crucial Metro project to remain stalled and pending.