Kolkata Metro

Locale	Kolkata, India
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

Kolkata Metro Train

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. Image File history File links Kolmetrologo. ... This article is on Calcutta/Kolkata, the city. ... Skytrain Bangkok. ... A rapid transit, underground, subway, tube, elevated, or metro(politan) system is a railway — usually in an urban area — with a high capacity and frequency of service, and grade separation from other traffic. ... Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. ... Great Western Railway broad gauge steam locomotives awaiting scrapping in 1892 after the conversion to standard gauge. ... Image File history File links Calcutta-tollygunge1. ... Image File history File links Calcutta-tollygunge1. ...   (IPA: [] Bengali: কলকাতা) (formerly  ) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... Indian Railways (IR) is the state-owned railway company of India. ... The Delhi Metro is the metro system of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Dum-dum is the colloquial name for several types of modified exploding (more properly known as expanding) ammunition for firearms. ... Park Street is one of the main thoroughfares of the city of Calcutta, India. ... Esplanade is a place in Central Calcutta. ... Tollygunge is a suburban locality of South Kolkata. ...

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 97.5 km. 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 6 January or 1 June 1972. 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.   (IPA: [] Bengali: কলকাতা) (formerly  ) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... The Government of India (Hindi: Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ... West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Indira PriyadarÅ›inÄ« GāndhÄ« (DevanāgarÄ«: इन्दिरा प्रियदर्शिनी गान्धी, IPA: ) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984)(nee Nehru) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ...

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 November 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. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dum-dum is the colloquial name for several types of modified exploding (more properly known as expanding) ammunition for firearms. ... November 12 is the 316th day of the year (317th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 49 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... St Clair Beach and esplanade, Dunedin, New Zealand Promenade at Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City, Philippines. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Features

Technical features

Kolkata Metro Coming out of the tunnel, Dumdum Jn.

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. Image File history File links Kolkatametrotrain. ... Image File history File links Kolkatametrotrain. ...

• 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.

Salient features

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.

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!). Chennai   (Tamil: ), formerly known as Madras  , is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is Indias fourth largest metropolitan city. ... Bangalore (Kannada: ; pronunciation: in Kannada and in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. ...

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.

Routes

Kolkata Metro and Circular Rail Map

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (489x640, 49 KB) Source URL :http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (489x640, 49 KB) Source URL :http://www. ...

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

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: Dhor baal is a suburb of Kolkata, India located in the southern parts of the city. ...

• Tollygunge
• Kudghat
• Bansdroni
• Naktala
• Garia Bazaar
• Pranabnagar
• New Garia

Fare structure

Metrorail fare is not fixed, but instead varies based on the distance traveled. Fare structure on Metro Railway was last revised with effect from 10 January or 1 October 2001 after a gap of 3 years. The present fare structure is as below: January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2001. ...

Tickets

The following types of tickets are available.

• Daily Tickets
  • Single Person single journey
  • Single Person two journeys
  • Multi person (from 2 to 7) single journey
  • Multi person (from 2 to 7) two journeys

• Multi-ride tickets
  • Limited Multi-ride (LMR) - Valid for 30 days (40 rides journey available by paying fare for 30 rides)
  • Extended Multi-ride (EMR) - Valid for 90 days (80 rides journey available by paying fare for 55 rides)

The above tickets are issued for all three zones.

Automatic fare collection

Metro Rail, Kolkata introduced automatic fare collection (AFC) system in August/September 1994, 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)

A ticket office machine (TOM) 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.

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.

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.

See also

• List of rapid transit systems

This is an alphabetical list of cities worldwide that have a rapid transit system, or a light-rail system with some elements of rapid transit. ...

External links

• Official Website
• Urban Rail

References

1. ^ Underwater metro in Kolkata gets central nod