Eden Gardens Beckons: Purple Line Extension Approved

Kolkata’s Raj Bhavan has granted formal approval for the 1.6 km underground extension of the Metro Purple Line from Esplanade to Eden Gardens, marking a rare instance of gubernatorial clearance for a metro alignment survey.

The project is being implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which has already completed the topographical survey needed to finalise the route alignment. The proposed underground stretch will skirt the periphery of the Raj Bhavan lawns for approximately 250 metres before veering across to the other side, where the Eden Gardens station—the fifth underground stop on the corridor—is planned.

To optimise resources, RVNL intends to reuse tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Durga and Divya, currently deployed in the 1.7 km Kidderpore–Victoria Memorial section. The 640-metre Park Street–Esplanade segment will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method, while the 1.6 km Eden Gardens stretch will be executed using TBMs. This section has no major overhead obstructions, enabling smoother tunnelling operations.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.