Page 37 - NIS English 16-30 September, 2025

Metro corridor has expanded 7 times in Kolkata

Railway-highway projects
get momentum
The metro project in Kolkata started in 1972, and
in 1984, services started on the first 3.4 km line.
Since then, about 70 km of metro rail has been
constructed. A target has been set to complete the
130 km metro network by the year 2027.
Lifeline for modern connectivity
Metro Line Expense
n The 3 new sections given to Kolkata Metro include
28
1972-2014(42 years) KM ₹5,981 Crore 2.45 km between Esplanade-Sealdah, 6.77 km
45 connecting Noapara to Jai Hind Airport and 4.39 km
2014-2025(11 years) KM ₹25,593 Crore between Ruby-Beleghata.
n In the last decade, 42 rail projects of more than n Through the Noapara-Jai Hind Airport section, Netaji
4,400 km and costing about Rs 68 thousand crore, Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport has been
which fall fully or partially in West Bengal, have directly connected to the metro service for the first
been approved. Out of these, 1702 km of length time. Through the new sections, the metro will now
has been commissioned. be able to reach those areas, where earlier it took 45
n Work is going on for 34 projects of 286 km of minutes to 1 hour to reach by road.
National Highway in West Bengal. Its cost will be n The 7.2 km long six-lane elevated Kona Expressway,
around Rs 10,900 crore. to be built at a cost of more than Rs 1,200 crore,
will increase connectivity between Howrah, the
Connectivity in road, track, air, and water increased surrounding rural areas, and Kolkata.

Sector Now 2025-26 Then 2013-14 Youth of India have the right to
24 cities 5 cities
Metro the resources of the country
1,050 km length 248 km length
Prime Minister Modi also showed his concern about
Metro 6 km monthly 680 meters
construction monthly the demographic challenge and infiltrators. He said that
Metro 1.12 crore daily 28 lakh daily today, in the countries which are called developed and
passengers which have no dearth of resources, there is a campaign
Railway line More Than 20,000 going on against intruders. India has limited resources.
electrifica- 40,000 KM KM We have to provide employment to our youth. We
tion will not allow those intruders in our country who are
Airports 160 74 snatching employment from our youth and who are
Waterways 30 3 torturing our sisters and daughters.

third-largest metro network is now in India. PM Modi Vande Bharat trains on different routes of West Bengal,
said that 21st-century India also needs a 21st-century 2 Amrit Bharat trains are also running.
transport system. Therefore, today we are developing In another public meeting held in Kolkata, PM Modi
modern transport facilities in the country, from rail to said that till the potential of West Bengal is not in-
road, metro to airport, and connecting them. creased, the journey of Viksit Bharat will not be success-
ं
West Bengal has now joined those states of the ful. We say, बांाग्लुारी उदोोय तबांेई, वि�कोोविशतो भाारीोतेरी जॉॉय! There-
country where 100% electrification of railways has fore, in the last 11 years, the central government has
been done. The Government of India has fulfilled the provided every help for the development here. n
long-standing demand for the MEMU train between
Purulia and Howrah. Along with the operation of 9 Scan the QR code to see the complete
program of the Prime Minister

September 16-30, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 35