A portion of the Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor has received clearance from the commissioner of railway safety, paving the way for commercial services.
Commercial runs between Joka and Taratala are expected by December, said Metro authorities.
“The commissioner of railway safety has given the clearance. It is subject to certain stipulations which are to be addressed before we start commercial runs,” Arun Arora, the general manager of Metro Railway, said on Friday.
“The conditions will be met by the end of this month. We will start commercial services by December,” he added.
The entire Joka-Esplanade stretch spans 14.2km. The Joka-Taratala stretch spans 8km. There are 7 stations on the stretch — Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakherbazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar and Taratala.
Mohd. Latief Khan, the commissioner of railway safety (North Frontier circle), inspected the Joka-Taratala stretch on November 10.
On September 15, the first trial run on the stretch happened, almost a decade after construction had started in the corridor.
Since the truncated corridor is yet to get an advanced signalling system, only one train will be used at a time even when commercial services start, said officials.
“One of the existing air-conditioned rakes will be used on the stretch for now. The train will leave Joka, reach Taratala and then come back to Joka,” said an official.
The Taratala-Esplanade stretch is far from ready.
Construction is underway in the Majerhat-Mominpore stretch. The project goes underground from Mominpore. But the work on underground tunnelling from Mominpore is yet to start, said Metro officials.
Metro sources said the present target for the completion of the entire project is 2025.
A Metro official said an application has been sent to the CRS for an inspection of the New Garia-Ruby corridor.
Pierce to flag off TSK 25K
Mary Pierce
Former tennis champion Mary Pierce will flag off the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K, partnered by The Telegraph, in Kolkata on December 18.
Pierce, 47, has been named as the international event ambassador for the seventh edition of the race. Pierce won two Grand Slam singles crowns from six finals and 18 WTA singles titles.
Registrations for — 25K, Open 10K, Ananda Run (4.2km), Senior Citizens’ Run (2.3km), and Champions with Disability (2.3km) — at tatasteelkolkata25k.procam. in will stay open until November 30 11.59pm, or till running places are filled.
Debraj Mitra
