Raj Bhavan nod for underground 1.6 km stretch of Purple Line

Kolkata: Following Raj Bhavan's clearance, RVNL has completed survey of the Purple line's 1.6 km extension to Eden Gardens. The metro tracks will travel through the edge of the Governor House lawns before crossing over to the opposite flank where the corridor's fifth underground station is being planned.

Rarely do agencies seek the governor's approval for surveys that are prerequisites to drawing a new Metro route. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the implementing agency of the Purple line, which is being extended 1.6 km beyond Esplanade and 1.2 km on the southern fringes to IIM-Calcutta, has now finished the topographical survey. needed to finalize the alignment of the proposed Eden Gardens metro line.

"Such surveys are typically conducted to ensure the project is feasible and well-planned. They help in understanding the terrain, soil conditions, and other relevant factors crucial to determining the alignment, construction methods, and overall project cost," said an engineer.

"The survey was done to understand the status above and under the ground in the metro path of the 1.6 km beyond Esplanade to Eden Gardens. The tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will curve past the East-West Metro (Green line) Esplanade station, cross over to Raj Bhavan's edge (covering around 250 m of the garden area) before curving across the road to the Eden Gardens station, which will come up on the site opposite Gate No 1. Based on the survey, the best (shortest) alignment will be mapped out," a Railways official said.

RVNL intends to deploy the same TBMs, Durga and Divya, being used for the construction of the 1.7 km Kidderpore-Victoria Memorial section. The borers will be launched again for the second drive (950 m from Victoria Memorial to Park Street). The 640 m from Park Street to Esplanade will be built in cut-and-cover method (building tunnels inside underground trenches) since most of this stretch is free of infringement.

From Esplanade, the TBMs will be launched for the third time to burrow and build the 1.6 km to Eden Gardens station. This section, too, has no overhead structures.

TOI on Jan 12 had reported that "Kolkata metro plans to extend Joka-Esplanade Purple Line to Eden Gardens." By extending the Purple line to Eden Gardens, Metro Railway is looking to draw passengers from the BBD Bag area, offices on Strand Road, Babughat and Calcutta High Court. Sports enthusiasts can simply walk to the proposed Eden Gardens station to access the city's lifeline or the North-South (Blue) corridor, by availing the Esplanade interchange.

The earlier plan was to link Eden Gardens to Esplanade by a long subway.