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Purple Line nearing final green: Updates on Joka – Esplanade Metro construction

10 July, 2023
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It seems just the other day that residents of Gems City Joka woke up to some great news.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the Joka-Taratala stretch of Kolkata Metro’s Purple Line on 30th December 2022!

It was the first tangible step to putting residents of Joka minutes away from the central business district of BBD Bag; and the central entertainment and commercial hubs of Park Street, New Market and Esplanade.

Kolkata Metro Railway Line 3 is also called the Purple Line. When completed, it will span over 15 km from Joka in the south, to Esplanade in the north, with an extension of over 3 km to Diamond Park from Joka. Stations comprise Diamond Park – IIM – Joka – Thakurpukur – Sakherbazar – Behala Chowrasta – Behala Bazar – Taratala – Majerhat – Mominpur – Khidderpore – Victoria – Park Street – Esplanade.

What have been the developments along the line till now? Well, a lot. As one of the most ambitious urban rapid transport projects crisscrossing the heart of India’s third-most populous metropolis with the highest population density, Kolkata Metro’s Purple Line has faced unprecedented challenges as it makes its way through the bustle of 24,000 Kolkatans per square kilometre; necessitating additions and alterations.

While all efforts are being made to complete the work of Majerhat station by September 2023 a buffer was suddenly needed so that 2 km could be added from Taratala to Majerhat, which meant that the viaduct needed to be continuous to Remount Road to extend it by 2 km beyond Taratala. Only three short spans remained to be built after the 50m girder-launching for the viaduct to reach Remount Road. Building such a massive span above the busy Diamond Harbour Road required several utilities to be removed and complete closure of the 24×7 busy Majerhat Bridge!

The task was finished by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) engineers over a Saturday-Sunday using two road-mounted cranes, one weighing 250 tonnes and the other 150 tonnes, along with a third 300-tonne crane parked nearby. On Sunday night, giant 16- and 12-wheel trailers carrying the assembled girders were brought to the location and the task completed.

In the process, the extended deadline of October 2023 was once again back to the earlier target of September 2023!!

In a customer-responsive initiative, after a detailed study the Metro Rail decided to increase the number of daily services on Purple Line between Joka to Taratala from 1st May.

12 daily services doubled to 24, Monday to Friday. Following the “One Train O¬nly System” the interval between services was reduced from 60 minutes to 40 minutes, with no gap between 12.30 -15.30 pm like before. Office goers and students of different educational institution s – Behala to Joka – were thrilled.

For those interested, the first service from Joka is available at 08.55 hrs. and the last from Joka is available at 16.20 hrs. From Taratala, the first service is available at 09.20 hrs. and the last from Taratala at 16.40 hrs. There are no services o¬n Saturdays and Sundays.

Purple Line will be over ground on viaducts till Mominpur, after which it will go underground. Bids were invited this year for design and construction of the ramp and underground works for four underground stations of the 5.05 km long Mominpur – Esplanade section viz. Khidderpore, Victoria, Park Street and Esplanade. On 23rd June 2023, the bidder was selected!

Khidderpore Metro station will be on land acquired from St Thomas Boys School, one of Kolkata’s oldest schools. Victoria Metro station will be built near the racecourse. The line will connect underground Kolkata Metro Line 1 at Park Street and run in parallel up to Esplanade where it will connect with Kolkata Metro Line 2.

For the parallel underground section from Park Street to Esplanade station, experts have recommended cut-and-cover, not TBM (tunnel boring machine) method, to prevent a repeat of Line 2’s Bowbazar section, where soil subsidence caused huge delays and cost hikes.

Purple Line is the reason why a smart new Maidan Market is being built at Curzon Park, above the Esplanade station of East-West Metro Line 2.

Once completed, 500 stall holders of the old Maidan market will shift there, making way for the ramshackle structure to be demolished and the terminal Esplanade station of Joka-Esplanade Metro Line 3 to come up.

From time to time we will be giving you an update of Kolkata’s momentous Purple Line as it nears its green signal; promising transformative change to residents and visitors of Joka… and Gems City in particular.

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