TimesView The Metro projects, on which work has already started on the ground, can make commuting much easier. The city and its residents should not lose out on game-changing infrastructure projects because of problems that should be sorted out between government agencies. KOLKATA: With railway minister’s review of the ongoing Metro projects portraying a grim picture of delay and impediments, the city’s Metro hope now hinges on three truncated services — Noapara-Dakshineswar, New Garia-Ruby and Sector V-Phoolbagan in 2019. The Baranagar-Barrackpore stretch via Kalyani Expressway is unlikely to see the light of day, with Railway Board showing no interest in taking Metro far away from the suburban line.The Noapara-Dakshineswar (via Baranagar) link will be commissioned by October, 2019, linking two of the city’s greatest pilgrim spots — Kalighat and Dakshineswar The New Garia-Ruby stretch, for which RVNL (the executing agency) has already invited bid for laying tracks, is likely to be operative from October 2019. RVNL is now working hard to avoid any delay in the project. Ruby connection will give the Kolkatans an easy access to the city emerging health care district.In the changed circumstances, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation — which has failed to meet the deadline of running a 5.8km truncated service from Sector V to Stadium by this October — has now geared up to run the entire first phase Metro from Sector V to Phoolbagan in June 2019.However, the dilly-dally with the Baranagar-Barrackpore project along BT Road has pushed the project to uncertainty. Out of the Rs 2,070 crore sanctioned for the alignment, only Rs 40 crore was spent on the stillborn project. KMC put a spanner on it, fearing the probable damage it could cause to the six water pipelines below BT Road, said an RVNL official.RVNL, which engaged a French Firm for a alternative design, assured KMC that the pipes would not be affected but rued the fact that the state is mulling with the idea of elevated corridor along the road.

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