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The Airports Authority of India's (AAI) intervention prompted the Metro Railway authorities in Kolkata to make changes in its plan for the proposed extension of metro services connecting the Kolkata airport.
As per the new plan, the 4-km stretch from Rajarhat to Barasat will follow the underground route as against the original proposal for elevated rail link. The new plan may increase the project cost by Rs 220 crore.
Interestingly, as per the original proposal, the existing elevated suburban link between Dum Dum and the airport was slated to be used for the proposed extension of metro services. In the new scheme of things, the elevated link may be brought down as it will hinder the operations of the airport.
“The elevated rail link might hamper flight operations at the new terminal of the Kolkata airport. As a result, the AAI has asked Metro Railway authorities to consider a proposal for converting a part of the existing elevated railway system into an underground stretch,” Mr Sougata Roy, Union Minister of State for Urban Development, said here on Friday.
Mr Roy was addressing the media following a meeting of the airport advisory committee.
Despite repeated attempts, Metro Railway authorities were not available for their comments.
Integrated Terminal
Meanwhile, Mr Roy maintained that the ongoing modernisation work (of the new integrated terminal) at the NSCBI Airport was on track and would be completed by December-end. The new terminal will be commissioned by March 2012.
“Almost 70 per cent of the modernisation work has been completed. We expect to finish the civil engineering work by December this year,” the Union Minister said adding that the airport is currently handling 96 lakh passengers annually as against the present capacity of 40 lakhs.
Following modernisation, the new terminal will handle two crore passengers every year.
The second phase of modernisation will commence 20 years after commissioning of the integrated terminal and the old structure, built years back, will be pulled down for capacity expansion.
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