The proposed 15 km-long East to West metro corridor in Kolkata (connecting eastern fringes with Howrah) is one of the most ambitious the city has undertaken.

Majority of the line will go underground to pass through the congested central Kolkata districts. It has to go 35 metre deep under the earth to cross the river Hooghly.

In an interview to Business Line , Dr Subrata Gupta, Managing Director of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRC), explains the progress the Rs 5,000 crore project and the challenges ahead:

What has been the progress of EW Metro so far?

So far, close to 23 per cent work is completed. This includes construction work at the elevated portion (approx 6 km) and tunnel boring for the underground tracks (approx 9 km).

The project is already running one year behind the scheduled completion in 2014-15. What were the reasons for this delay?

It’s difficult to pin-point any one factor. Availability of land has been an issue. We faced land hurdles near Sealdah and Howrah Railway stations. Availability of land at Subhash Sarobar and Duttabad, in the East, was also an issue.

Could you resolve land issues?

In the Subhash Sarobar area, KMC has taken an initiative to rehabilitate more than 50 families residing there. We have resorted to technical solution (i.e. cantilever technology) near Duttabad in order to minimise the impact on slum-dwellers. The State urban development department has agreed to provide land for permanent rehabilitation of these people.

Apart from land, any other issues hindering the project?

There was less interest from the bidders for rolling stock contracts. We had to invite the tender thrice. We have been able to get good international participation in the third round of bidding. Now, we will be able to award the contract by mid-July.

Similarly, the track work had to be delayed because of certain technical issues raised by the Railways. Bids were invited for the second time and now we are in a position to award the track contract in a month or two.

What is the expected cost escalation?

The contracts we have signed so far are below estimation. So, whatever cost escalation may occur is because of depreciation of rupee against the dollar.

How many contracts have been awarded for the project till date?

Among the 22 major contracts, 12 contracts have been awarded so far. Three consortiums – ROTEM and Toyo Denki; CAF India Ltd and MELCO; Kawasaki, Toshiba and Mitsubishi – have bid for rolling stock contract.

The 9-km underground track is divided into two parts. Tunnelling contract for Subash Sarobar – Central section (5 km) is awarded to an Indo-Thai consortium ITD-ITD Cem.

Contract for Central to Howrah Maidan (4 km) underground section is bagged by a consortium of Afcons and Transtonnelstroy.

What is so unique about this project?

It’s an extremely challenging project as the Metro is connecting two busiest railway stations in the country - Sealdah and Howrah – and will cross one of the major rivers. The tunnel to ensure land and water connectivity needs to have a specific gradient and design. The design for the station and underwater tracks provide serious civil engineering, architectural and environmental challenges.

Temperature levels have to be maintained at a constant point.

Once the project is completed (entire E-W Corridor) it will be a project unique to Kolkata.

> ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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