RVNL eyes puja date to launch Taratala-Majerhat line

Kolkata: The Majerhat station is fast emerging as one of the better designed Metro stations in the city. Implementing agency Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) is eyeing a Puja date to launch the 2km Taratala-Majerhat line and extend the now operational 6.5km Joka-Taratala Metro.Work is in full swing to complete the Metro station coming up over Eastern Railway’s Majerhat railway station. “The Majerhat Metro station is an engineering marvel in itself. Haven’t heard of any other Metro station in the country being constructed above a railway yard, with three levels of train tracks,” said an engineer. “While the two East-West Metro stations coming up below the mammoth Howrah and Sealdah stations are unique too (the former being India’s deepest Metro station), the Majerhat Metro station also involved superior construction expertise,” he said.With the Majerhat bridge in the background, the three levels of Metro facility merging with the Metro viaduct running above the bridge and the railway tracks running at the ground level, the new station is quite a sight. The PVC sheets above the platform, the aesthetically pleasing murals, paintings are integral to the swank look of the station. “Scaffolding work is on, platform roof structures are being fixed and escalators installed from the concourse to the platform area. Lifts from the ground to platform levels are already functioning. The station floors are being covered with granite. Construction of the last and the fourth access has started. The other three entry-exit points are being completed, too,” said an official.The Joka-Esplanade corridor is high on RVNL’s priority list. After commissioning the 6.5km Joka-Taratala section with six stations, the agency fast-tracked construction of the seventh stop, the Majerhat Metro station. The Metro project’s underground section was stalled since 2011 because of a stand-off between the railways and the defence ministry. Work was possible between Joka and Majerhat, forcing RVNL to split the project in two phases. A third phase was included when the Majerhat bridge collapsed in 2018 and work for the station stalled.
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