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Approaching Green on the Purple Line: Updates on Joka-Esplanade Metro construction #2

21 October, 2023
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The Purple Line, like other Metro Rail projects in Kolkata, has gained momentum recently. The Joka-Taratala stretch was inaugurated on December 30, 2022. Construction activity for the Majerhat Metro station, part of the Joka-Esplanade Corridor (Purple Line), is proceeding at a brisk pace. The proposed corridor encompasses both underground and elevated routes. The Joka-Mominpur section is elevated, while the stretch after Mominpur goes underground.

The concreting work at Majerhat Metro station is nearly finished, and scaffoldings for the station and platform roof are being erected, followed by the installation of PVC sheets for roof covering. Escalators linking the concourse to the platform area are also being installed with vigour. Beautification efforts, including murals and paintings, have commenced, and the flooring, adorned with granite, is close to completion. The on-going work on entry and exit points, coupled with the installation of lifts for passenger convenience, is expected to conclude shortly.

Victoria Underground Metro Station

Work on the Majerhat to Esplanade stretch of the Purple Line has also begun. A significant development in the expansion of the Kolkata Metro Purple Line is the initiation of the Victoria Metro station, an underground station that will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method, with M/s Larsen & Toubro Ltd. overseeing its development.

According to an official from RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited), the contract for the entire underground section has been awarded, and barricades around the Maidan area are in place to prevent unauthorized access to the construction site. More sections of the Maidan will be barricaded in the coming days.

Construction work on the Victoria Metro station, situated underground beside the renowned Victoria Memorial Hall, a prominent landmark in the City of Joy, has commenced. This station will be one of the four underground stations on the Purple Line; the other three being Khidderpur, Park Street and Esplanade, spanning a total of 5 kilometres.

To facilitate Victoria Metro station construction, the Fountain of Joy on Kolkata Maidan will be dismantled and later reconstructed on completion of the construction work. Additionally, several trees will be transplanted to accommodate the construction.

The Victoria Metro station, after commissioning, will provide easy access for people from various parts of the city to visit iconic landmarks such as the M.P. Birla Planetarium (Taramandal) and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Additionally, it will serve as an alternative gateway to cultural hotspots like Rabindra Sadan, Nandan, the Academy of Fine Arts and Nehru Children’s Museum, as well as the renowned PG Hospital (IPGMER & SSKM Hospital). Residents across the city and suburbs will also have convenient access to the Brigade Parade Ground, popularly known as ‘Gorer Maat,’ to enjoy breezy summer evenings and sunny winter afternoons.

The construction of the Victoria Metro station is being managed by the executing agency RVNL, which has set a target of completing the work within 48 months. With the commissioning of the Majerhat-Esplanade section, commuting from the south-western part of Kolkata, including Taratala, Behala, Thakurpukur, and Joka, to Central Kolkata will become smooth and fast.

RVNL engineers have initiated mobilisation efforts before commencing construction work, and it is estimated that 30 weeks will be required for preparation. The station will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd. Following the completion of barricading work, a 325 metre diaphragm wall will be erected for the Victoria Metro station.

A Vibration Impact study has been conducted to assess the potential vibration levels during the construction and operation of the Metro Railway. Based on the Study’s reports, the necessary No Objection Certificate has been obtained from the Victoria Memorial Hall authorities. Measures to reduce air and noise pollution during station construction, particularly in the Maidan area, will be implemented to prevent any discolouration of the Victoria Memorial Hall and maintain the aesthetic appeal of its surroundings – also known as the ‘lungs of Kolkata’.

Look out for these updates of Kolkata Metro Rail’s Purple Line as it nears the green signal from Joka to Esplanade; promising transformative change to residents of and visitors to Joka… and Gems City!

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