India’s oldest metro tunnel, which runs between Tollygunge and Dum Dum on the Kolkata Metro Blue Line, will undergo a major revamp soon. Four decades after it first became operational, this tunnel requires some revamp work, including civil structures and track overhaul. Scroll on to know more about this.
India’s Oldest Metro Tunnel In Kolkata Set For A Major Makeover
According to The Telegraph, Kolkata Metro’s tunnel between Tollygunge and Dum Dum, part of the north-south metro line, is set for an overhaul. This revamp work can take three to four years, and it may even necessitate stopping metro services for certain periods.
While talking to The Telegraph, Uday Kumar Reddy, general manager of Kolkata Metro, revealed that the authorities have already started to conduct a study on how they can manage the overhaul of the Metro tunnels between Tollygunge and Dum Dum. This study has been in the works for five to six months now, and a report is expected soon. Based on this report, further overhaul plans will be shared.
The authorities are also conducting studies to understand how they can add passenger amenities like elevators and escalators to the old stations. As per the Kolkata Metro authorities, only regular repairs and maintenance work have been done for the metro tunnel over the years. They mentioned that, seeing how old the tunnel is, it will require some major overhaul.
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Expected Revamp Work
Kolkata Metro is the oldest of the mass rapid transit systems in the country. The tunnel between Tollygunge and Dum Dum was built with the cut-and-cover method, using diaphragm walls and sheet piles. Now, decades after it first opened, it is set for a facelift. While the exact details of the revamp work will be shared once the results of the study are out, the initial analysis shows structural repairs, track renewal, and the addition of services like elevators and escalators.
Besides the overhauling of the four-decade-old Kolkata Metro tunnel, the authorities also plan to upgrade the north-south line’s signalling system. This will, in turn, increase the frequency of trains on the line and improve the overall passenger experience. The addition of amenities like escalators and elevators will also help improve passenger convenience and safety.
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We can’t wait to see how this makeover will help make Kolkata Metro services more convenient.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (representative image)