East-West Metro: Kolkata's Connectivity Dream Almost Real

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) has entered the final phase of construction on the East-West Metro corridor by beginning the closure of twin tunnel shafts at Esplanade station. These 98-foot-deep shafts were originally used to launch tunnel boring machines Chundi and Urvi in early 2019. KMRC expects sealing work to be completed by July.

With this step, the 16.6 km corridor from Sector V to Howrah Maidan is nearing full operational readiness. The key Esplanade–Sealdah segment, linking the already functional Sector V–Sealdah and Esplanade–Howrah Maidan stretches, is now prepared for revenue service.

This progress follows the March 2024 inauguration of the 4.8 km under-river section between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Contractor ITD-ITD Cementation advanced the timeline by executing civil works, train trials, and safety installations in parallel.

The shaft closure includes constructing four slabs over each tunnel, featuring hatch covers and concrete layers for emergency access. The west-bound shaft was narrowed to better integrate the East-West and North-South Metro lines at Esplanade.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.