Parliament Question: Structural Health of Kolkata Metro

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6118 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026 STRUCTURAL HEALTH OF KOLKATA METRO 6118. SMT. MALA ROY: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the monitoring of structural health like pillars, platform roof and railway track of Kolkata Metro; and (b) the details of the periodical monitoring of structural health report of Said Metro? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) & (b) There is a well-established system of inspection and maintenance of railway tracks, tunnels, bridges and structures on Indian Railway including Kolkata metro as prescribed in various manuals. All the tracks, bridges, tunnels and other structures of Kolkata Metro is monitored through a system of regular and periodic inspections carried out by officials in accordance with laid down maintenance and inspection schedules. This includes daily patrolling, on-foot inspection, trolley inspection and foot plate/rear window inspection and other scheduled inspections by the concerned officials. Based on regular and periodic inspections conducted by Metro Railway officials, necessary maintenance and repair works are planned and executed. In addition to routine inspections, special technical inspections are also undertaken through specialized agencies like RITES Ltd. for comprehensive assessment of health of structures. Repair/strengthening/rehabilitation of bridges, tunnels, tracks and other structures is a continuous process and is undertaken whenever so warranted by their physical condition as ascertained during these inspections. At present works costing about Rs. 82 Cr. sanctioned for rehabilitation and strengthening of viaduct and structures. § Page 1 of 5Kolkata Metro Kolkata Metro in Kolkata started in 1972. The details of the Metro commissioned since then are as under: Period Metro Commissioned 1972 to 2014 (42 years) 28 km 2014 to 2025 (11 years) 45 km The details of Metro Corridors commissioned are as under: Section Commissioned S.No. Metro Corridor Kavi Subash – Noapara (28 This Corridor commissioned before 1 Km) (Blue Line) year 2014 (This required about 42 years to complete) Noapara – Dakshineswar This Corridor commissioned in 2020- 2 (4.14 Km) (Extension of 21 Blue Line) Noapara – Jaihind Airport - Noapara – Jaihind Airport section 3 Barasat (18 Km) (Yellow (6.77 Km) Commissioned in 2025-26 Line) Joka – Majerhat - Esplanade Joka – Majerhat section (7.74 Km) 4 (14 Km) (Purple Line) Commissioned in stages from 2022 to 2o24. New Garia - Belaghata - New Garia – Belaghata (9.8 Km) 5 Dumdum Airport (32 Km) Commissioned in stages between (Orange Line) 2023-26 Howrah Maidan – Salt Lake This Corridor commissioned in 6 Sec. V (16.55 Km) (Green stages from 2019-25. Line) Further, work pertaining to 4 Metro corridors at total length of about 52 km is under progress, out of which 20 km of work is held up due to land acquisition and utility shifting issues pertaining to State Government. In the rest of the Metro stretch, though the work is in progress yet facing difficulties due to one or other reasons at the end of State Government. Details are as below: (i) Noapara – Jaihind Airport - Barasat (18 km): Noapara - Jai Hind Airport (6.77 km) has been commissioned and work from Jai Hind Page 2 of 5Airport to Michael Nagar is in progress. However, work from New Barrackpore to Barasat (7.5 km) is held up due to land acquisition and encroachment issues by State authorities. SN Location Issues 1. New Barrackpore  Land acquisition (23,000 sq. m) and to Barasat removal of heavy encroachments (1277 hutments, 764 shops) are involved in this section.  The matter is not yet resolved by Government of West Bengal (GoWB). (ii) Joka – Majerhat - Esplanade (14 km): Joka - Majerhat (7.74 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Majerhat to Esplanade (6.26 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues: SN Location Issues 1. Khidderpur  For utility shifting and road traffic diversion, Metro Station 837 sqm permanent and 1,702 sqm temporary land of State Government (Kolkata Armed Police) is required. The proposal of this land was sent to State Government on 24.08.2020.  Several meetings were held with officials of Government of West Bengal (GoWB) for transfer of above land.  After lot of persuasion, State Government finally accorded approval in July 2025 only after almost 5 years. 2. Dr. B.C. Roy  For construction of Esplanade Metro Market Station, temporary shifting of unauthorised 528 Shops at B.C. Roy Market on Defence land is required.  The proposal for NOC of temporary/permanent shifting of these shops was submitted to State Government in February 2022. Shops for temporary Page 3 of 5SN Location Issues shifting of these unauthorized shops have also been constructed by Railway.  The State Government has been requested to facilitate shifting. Regular follow up with State PWD is also being done.  Issue is pending for more than 3.5 years. (iii) New Garia – Belaghata - Dum Dum Airport (32 km): New Garia - Belaghata (9.8 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Belaghata to Dum Dum Airport (22.2 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues: SN Location Issues 1. Chingrighata  Temporary traffic diversion at Chingrighata Crossing crossing for launching of viaduct segments (Between is required for 3 nights each on either side Beleghata – of the road (8 hours on every night). Gour Kishore  The proposal was submitted to Government Ghosh stations) of West Bengal (GoWB) in December 2024.  The diversion road as desired by Kolkata traffic police has already been constructed in February 2025.  Since then, several meetings have been held with various State Government and Kolkata police officials for NOC.  The NOC is still awaited even after about 12 months. (iv) Baranagar - Barrackpore - Dakshineshwar (14.5 km): Baranagar - Dakshineshwar (2 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Baranagar to Barrackpore (12.5 km) is held up due to pending utility shifting in the alignment by state government authorities. The details are as below: SN Location Issues 1. Baranagar  The original alignment along the B.T road Page 4 of 5to Barrackpore was agreed in 2011 as per MoU among Metro Railway, RVNL and Kolkata Municipal Corporation.  As per MoU, existing pipeline was to be replaced by new 64-inch diameter pipeline by the State Government.  Shifting of this pipeline was completed in 2012.  However, NOC is still awaited from Government of West Bengal. ***** Page 5 of 5