New Delhi, 02 May (H.S.): The Ministry of Railways has accorded approval to key infrastructure projects worth ₹895.30 crore to strengthen railway infrastructure in West Bengal and enhance the capacity of Kolkata Metro services. These projects are aimed at improving line capacity, reliability, and overall transport connectivity in the region.

The sanctioned schemes include the upgradation of the power system for the Kolkata Metro and the reconstruction of a crucial bridge in the Adra division of South Eastern Railway. These initiatives are expected to improve metro operations on one hand and bolster freight movement and industrial connectivity on the other.

The Ministry said in a statement that a project worth ₹671.72 crore has been approved to strengthen the North–South Corridor of Kolkata Metro Railway. Under this scheme, seven new traction substations will be installed at an estimated cost of ₹291.06 crore.

In addition, the power system from Esplanade to Kavi Subhash (New Garia) will be augmented from 11 kV to 33 kNormally operating at an average headway of about five minutes, the existing system, conceived in the 1980s, has reached its capacity limits and faces maintenance challenges due to non‑availability of spare parts. With this upgrade, the headway between trains can be reduced from five minutes to 2.5 minutes, significantly enhancing line capacity and enabling more frequent and faster services for passengers.

A project costing ₹223.58 crore has been approved for the reconstruction of Bridge No. 520 (UP and Down lines) on the Madhukunda–Damodar (MDKD–DMA) section in the Adra division of South Eastern Railway. The existing Damodar Bridge, built in 1965 (UP line) and 1903 (DN line), has aged considerably and shows signs of structural distress, necessitating reconstruction of its foundation and substructure.

This section forms a critical link between Asansol and Tatanagar and is part of an important freight corridor used for coal transportation, with high traffic density. The project will enhance safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, while also providing a major boost to industries in the Durgapur–Asansol belt, including IISCO plant, ACC plant, and thermal power units, by improving rail connectivity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar