Kolkata Metro
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| Locale | Kolkata, India |
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| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Began operation | 1984 |
| System length | 16.5 km |
| No. of lines | 1 |
| No. of stations | 17 |
| Track gauge | Broad Gauge |
| Operator | Metro Railway, Kolkata |
The Kolkata Metro or Calcutta Metro is the underground rail network in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. It is considered to have the status of a zonal railway but is not a zone. It is run by the Indian Railways. It was the first underground built in India with service starting in 1984; The New Delhi Metro which opened in 2004 is the second.
The Kolkata Metro system is very much a source of pride for citizens. It is a very well maintained and clean system that itself has become a tourist attraction. The line begins at Dum Dum in the north and continues south through Park Street, Esplanade in the heart of the city till the southern end in Tollygunge.
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[edit] History
The burgeoning transport problem of Kolkata drew the attention of the city planners, the State Government and also the Government of India. It was soon realised that something had to be done and done fast to cope up with the situation. It was Dr. B.C. Roy, the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, who for the first time conceived the idea in 1949 of building an Underground Railway for Kolkata to solve the problems to some extent. A survey was done by a team of French experts but nothing concrete came out. Efforts made to solve the problem by augmenting the existing fleet of public transport vehicles barely touched the fringe of the problem as the roads account for only 4.2% of the surface area in Calcutta as compared to 25% in Delhi and even 30% in other cities. With a view to finding out an alternative solution to alleviate the suffering of the Kolkatans, the Metropolitan Transport Project (Rlys) was set up in 1969. After detailed studies, the MTP (Rlys) came to the conclusion that there was no other alternative but to construct a Mass Rapid Transit System. The MTP (Rlys) had prepared a Master Plan in 1971 envisaging construction of five rapid transit lines for the city of Kolkata , totalling to a route length of 97.5km. Of these, the highest priority was given to the busy North-South axis between Dum Dum and Tollygunge over a length of 16.45 km and the work on this project was sanctioned on 1.6.72. The foundation stone of the project was laid by Smt. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, on December 29, 1972 and the construction work started in 1973-74.
Since the commencement of construction, the project had to contend with several problems such as non-availability of sufficient funds till 1977-78, shifting of underground utilities, court injunctions, irregular supply of vital materials and others. But overcoming innumerable hurdles and crossing all barriers of disbelief, Calcutta Metro, India's first and Asia's fifth, became a reality on OCTOBER 24, 1984 with the commissioning of partial commercial service covering a distance of 3.40 km with five stations between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. This was quickly followed by commuter services on another 2.15 km stretch in the north between Dum Dum and Belgachia on NOVERMBER 12, 1984. The commuter service was extended upto Tollygunge on APRIL 29, 1986 covering a further distance of 4.24 km making the service available over an overall distance of 9.79 km and covering 11 stations. However, the services on the north section were suspended w.e.f. 26.10.92 as this isolated small section was not attractive to commuters. After a gap of over eight years, the 1.62 km Belgachia-Shyambazar section, along with Dum Dum -Belgachia stretch, was opened on AUGUST 13,1994. Another 0.71 km stretch from Esplanade to Chandni Chowk was commissioned shortly thereafter, on OCTOBER 2, 1994. The Shyambazar-Shovabazar-Girish Park (1.93 km) and Chandni Chowk-Central (0.60 km) sections were opened on FEBRUARY 19, 1995. Services on the entire stretch of Metro were introduced from September 27, 1995 by bridging the vital gap of 1.80 km in the middle. A dream thus came true.
[edit] Features
[edit] Technical Features
Metro construction is of a very complex nature requiring application of several new technologies in the fields of civil, electrical, signaling and telecommunication engineering. Indian engineers, backed by their own experience and supplemented by their studies abroad, adopted advanced technologies in the following fields for the first time in India.
- Cut and cover method of construction using diaphragm walls and sheet piles.
- Use of extensive decking to keep the traffic flowing over the cut while construction in progress underneath.
- Shield tunneling using compressed air and airlocks.
- Ballastless track using elastic fastenings, rubber pads, epoxy mortar and nylon inserts.
- Air-conditioning and ventilation system for environmental control of stations and tunnels.
- Third Rail current collection system for traction.
- Underground substations with dry type transformers and SF-6 circuit breakers.
- Tunnel- Train VHF- radio communication system.
- Micro-processor-based train control and supervisory remote control system for substations.
- Automatic ticket vending and checking system.
[edit] Salient Features
| Total Route Length | 16.45 Kilometers |
| Stations | 17(15 Nos. under ground, 1 on Surface and 1 elevated) |
| Gauge | 5'6" gauge |
| Coaches per train | 8 |
| Maximum Permissible Speed | 55 kmph |
| Average Speed | 30 kmph |
| Voltage | 750 Volt D.C. |
| Method of current collection | Third Rail using 750V DC |
| Travel Time: Dum Dum to Tollygunge | 33 min |
| Each coach can carry | 278 standing, 48 sitting |
| Each train carry | 2558 passengers (approx.) |
| Interval between trains | 8 minutes in peak hours & 10-15 minutes at other times |
| Total estimated cost of the project | Rs. 1825 crores (approx.) |
| Environment control | Forced ventilation with washed and cooled air. |
[edit] Method of Construction
Metro construction is of a very complex nature requiring application of several new technologies in the fields of civil, electrical, signaling and telecommunication engineering. Indian engineers, backed by their own experience and supplemented by their studies abroad, adopted advanced technologies in the following fields for the first time in India.
- Cut and cover method of construction using diaphragm walls and sheet piles.
- Use of extensive decking to keep the traffic flowing over the cut while construction in progress underneath.
- Shield tunneling using compressed air and airlocks.
- Ballastless track using elastic fastenings, rubber pads, epoxy mortar and nylon inserts.
- Air-conditioning and ventilation system for environmental control of stations and tunnels.
- Third Rail current collection system for traction.
[edit] Rolling Stock
The whole rake is through vestibuled. Rolling stock is from ICF, Chennai and the electricals from NGEF, Bangalore. The rolling stock is unique in that they are the only ones in India with end-mounted cab doors (excepting some of the WAG-6 series locos!).
ICF has specifically designed, manufactured and supplied these coaches for the Kolkata Metro Underground Railway System. The special features incorporated are:
- Traction power supply through third rail current collection system.
- Automatic door opening / closing and continuous monitoring of the transit.
- Automatic train protection feature which will automatically apply the brakes in case of human failure.
- There is also automatic operation of the train with the driver exercising a supervisory function.
- A public address system is provided on the trains to announce approaching stations. A central controller can contact any of the train crew and also make important announcements directly to passengers over the system.
With all these sophistication built in, the design and manufacture of these coaches to a very high standard of reliability and safety has been a major task. This was achieved without any technical collaboration. The entire formation is capable of carrying 2356 passengers.
[edit] Routes
[edit] North South Corridor
The stations on the metro (south to north) are :
- Tollygunge
- Rabindra Sarobar
- Kaligahat
- Jatin Das Park
- Netaji Bhavan
- Rabindra Sadan
- Maidan
- Park Street
- Esplanade
- Chandni Chowk
- Central
- Mahatma Gandhi Road
- Girish Park
- Shova Bazar
- Shyam Bazar
- Belgachia
- Dum Dum
[edit] Extension of North South Corridor
A new route is being constructed to Garia in the south. It is expected to be completed in 2007. The stations to be part of this line are as below:
- Tollygunge
- Kudghat
- Bansdroni
- Naktala
- Garia Bazaar
- Pranabnagar
- New Garia
[edit] Automatic Fare Collection
Metro Rail, Kolkata introduced Automatic Fare Collection(AFC) system in August/September'94, with magnetically coded tickets and Passenger Control(PC) system and this has now been extended to all stations from Tollygunge to Dum Dum .From Ticket Machine you will get magnetic ticket. Insert the ticket into automatic fare-collection gate to get entry into the stations platform. This magnetic ticket is available in six different types:
- Single Ride
- Two Rides
- Twelve Rides (LMR). Limited Multi Ride
- Forty Eight Rides (EMR), Extended Multi Ride
- Multi Person Single Ride (MPS)
- Multi Person Two Rides (MPR)
TOM (Ticket Office Machine) is a machine available at all booking counters from where magnetic tickets are issued. This ticket when inserted into automatic fare collection gate will give you the permission to enter into the platform.
In case of failure of this system, tickets are issued manually.
[edit] Proposed East West Metro
A Rs 40 billion project to connect Kolkata with Howrah by an underwater metro line has been cleared by the central government[1]. The West Bengal government had earlier appointed DMRC to conduct a feasibility study of the project after that the government,had earlier put the project on hold because of paucity of funds.A nine-kilometre stretch of the 19-km metro line from Ramrajatala in Howrah to Salt Lake here will pass below the Ganga river.The underwater metro plan was first thought of when the first metro service was inaugurated in Kolkata in 1984 by former prime minister Indira Gandhi. The route is to cover 18 stations and go under the river through a tunnel. West Bengal government is currently discussing the project with the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) for the funding of the project
[edit] Proposed Route
The proposed 16-km route from the Salt Lake end is: Central Park, City Centre, Salt Lake stadium, Narkeldanga Main Road, Phoolbagan, Sealdah station, BB Ganguly Street, BBD Bag, Jagannath Ghat, Howrah station and finally Howrah Maidan.
From New Town to Phoolbagan, the train will run on elevated tracks. Between Phoolbagan and Sealdah, it will use the existing ones. Thereafter, it will run underground.
From Central Metro station, it will proceed towards BBD Bag through BB Ganguly Street and take a right turn near Writers? Buildings to reach Jagannath Ghat. Between the ghat and Howrah station, the route runs beneath the Hooghly.
