JBIC to fund extension of Kolkata's EW Metro

Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) has agreed to fund the East-West metro’s extension up to the airport. JBIC has recently given the nod to Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation’s (KMRC) proposed extension of an arm to airport from Salt Lake. The construction of 6.5-km track would cost Rs 800 crore more than the estimated budget for the East-West Metro project. KMRC has already engaged RITES for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the extension. The decision came after a study commissioned by the transport department stressed on the need for a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) connectivity between the airport and the city. Currently, the annual passenger handling capacity of the two airport terminals is six million. Once the integrated building becomes operational, it will jump to 20 million. While 6,000 private cars and taxis now come to the airport every day, the figure will go up to 24,000 after modernization. The MRTS can take a lot of pressure off its passenger dispersal system. Airports in most major cities of the world are linked with an efficient MRTS. But Kolkata remains an exception. “We want the work on the airport link to begin simultaneously so that the EW Metro attracts a higher volume of passengers when completed. The airport line will also benefit a lot of fliers, especially those who are booked on no-frills airlines,” said a KMRC official. “The target is to complete the link by 2010, when the modernization project will be completed and the new airport terminal building will become operational,” a senior airport official said. Tracks will be laid across the Kestopur canal to VIP Road and cover almost the entire stretch of the road before going underground near its junction with the road heading right towards the airport. The airport station may be integrated with the underground parking lot of the new terminal, said an airport official. The state transport department has planned a four-lane flyover from Chitpore to the Lake Town-VIP Road crossing. The existing Circular Railway connection between Dum Dum junction and the airport may be made a part of the Metro route. Metro Rail is studying the project feasibility. “The survey will be completed next month,” said a Metro official.