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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Riders fume as wait for 2.6km E-W stretch stretches beyond 3 months
1 2 Kolkata: The commuter frustration over the inordinate delay in commissioning the 2.6-km stretch of East-West Metro, connecting the two disjointed sections — Sector V-Sealdah and Esplanade-Howrah Maidan — is turning into anger. People are questioning the rationale of an already long-delayed project being intentionally kept on hold by Metro Railway officials despite its completion more than three months earlier. The frustration has become more pronounced in recent weeks as commuters endure punishing road conditions — pothole-ridden thoroughfares, waterlogged lanes, and prolonged traffic snarls — to travel along the stretch. Some of these commuters have taken to social media, questioning why there is no light at the end of the tunnel for the crucial Sealdah-Esplanade section, although the project was approved for revenue operations on April 28. On Tuesday, singer-composer Shruti Pathak, who is running a campaign for the metro line's launch, posted on her X handle: "Day 12 of asking for the Esplanade-Sealdah metro to open. 12 days. 12 sincere requests. Still no action. We need this metro to run — not just for convenience, but for dignity." She has tagged @PMOIndia and @metrorailwaykolkata in her appeal. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The East-West Metro or Green Line will eventually span 16.6 km. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The 9.2-km Sector V-Sealdah section was opened in three phases from Feb 2020 while the 4.8-km Esplanade-Howrah Maidan was launched by PM Narendra Modi in March 2024. The first stretch ferries 45,000-odd passengers every day while the second registers nearly 55,000 daily riders, providing an under-river connection between Kolkata and Howrah. The missing link — the 2.6-km Esplanade-Sealdah corridor passing through the subsidence-prone Bowbazar — is yet to open. Metro Railway estimates that daily passenger count could reach 7 lakh once the full East-West Metro line is operational. Around mid-April, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), the project's implementer, was asked to wrap up work on the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch and be ready for an "imminent inauguration". Despite overcoming various setbacks and receiving the final authorisation for revenue services from the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) on April 28, there is yet no sign of integration of the two Green Line sections. Metro engineers admit opening the entire 16.6-km Sector V-Howrah Maidan corridor will transform the way Kolkatans travel. Chanchal Das, a Salt Lake resident, voiced a common concern: "So many years, so many deadlines missed, especially for the last section, for which several Bowbazar residents are still living in rented flats. When will we be able to zip to Howrah and also use the Esplanade interchange to access the North-South Metro?"
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Office layout in Kartavya Bhawan impacts confidentiality, efficiency: Officers to PMO
A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first of the 10 new secretariat buildings planned as a part of the Central Vista redevelopment, a forum representing 13,000 Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers on Tuesday wrote to the PM's Office raising concerns that the open layout of the new building would adversely impact confidentiality and efficiency of those working there. The CSS Forum, which represents CSS Group B and organised Group A officers, wrote to the PM's Principal Secretary P K Mishra and secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which is responsible for the Central Vista project, Srinivas Katikithala. The forum flagged what it termed was the violation of the Ministry's policy for space allocation in Kartavya Bhawan, which the PM will inaugurate on Wednesday. 'The seating arrangement in Kartavya Bhawan-3 lacks the necessary spatial integrity and functional separation of sections. In addition, multiple sections are housed in a single work hall without clear demarcation. Assistant Section Officers (ASOs), who are central to file processing and examining, lack dedicated storage… as well as partitions between their workspaces. Further, office space for Section Officer and Under Secretary level officers has been created by putting low height almirahs, which not only compromises privacy but also causes intermittent distractions, adversely affecting focus and critical thinking essential for analytical work, as well as the discreet handling of sensitive matters,' the forum wrote. They said under secretaries who work on confidential matters, including classified files, court cases and vigilance issues, need a private workspace. 'However, they have been provided open office space, wherein their telephonic and in-person discussions with senior authorities and other officials can be easily overheard… This is particularly problematic for sections dealing with sensitive matters, where premature disclosure could compromise outcomes. In the existing set up, separate rooms are used to be provided to Under Secretaries to ensure the necessary confidentiality for their critical responsibilities.' The letter also cited a March 16, 2017 office memorandum of the Directorate of Estates, under MoHUA, which specifies the space to be allotted to officers based on their pay level and designation. Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu's national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Land acquisition begins for Rs 22,864cr Shillong-Silchar high-speed corridor
Shillong: Land acquisition process for the construction of the Shillong-Silchar Greenfield high-speed four-lane corridor has officially begun, with the route passing through Ri-Bhoi district in Meghalaya. District deputy commissioner Abhilash Baranwal has urged residents not to undertake any new construction or development activities within the designated area for the proposed highway. "It is hereby clearly stated that any unauthorised structures — whether temporary or permanent — erected within the proposed alignment after the issuance of this notice will not be considered eligible for compensation during land acquisition or project implementation," a notification issued by the DC stated. The cabinet committee on economic affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had earlier approved the development, maintenance, and management of a 166.80 km Greenfield Access Controlled section of NH-06 from Mawlyngkhung (near Shillong) in Meghalaya to Panchgram (near Silchar) in Assam. The project will be executed under the hybrid annuity mode at a total capital cost of Rs 22,864 crore. Of the total length, 144.8km falls within Meghalaya and 22km in Assam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo According to an official statement issued on April 30, the corridor will improve traffic flow between Guwahati and Silchar, enhancing connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and the Barak Valley region. It is expected to reduce travel time and distance, thereby boosting logistics efficiency nationwide. The corridor will also improve economic development in Meghalaya, especially in cement and coal-producing areas, and promote tourism by connecting scenic destinations across the northeast. It will link Guwahati, Shillong, and Silchar airports via the existing NH-06, facilitating access for both domestic and international tourists. Crossing through Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, and Cachar district in Assam, the project is expected to ease congestion on NH-06 and enhance transport infrastructure in line with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The alignment integrates with major transport corridors including NH-27, NH-106, NH-206, and NH-37, ensuring seamless connectivity to key locations such as Diengpasoh, Ummulong, Phramer, Khlieriat, Ratachera, Umkiang, Kalain, and others. Upon completion, the Shillong-Silchar corridor is expected to play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, improving connectivity between Guwahati, Shillong, Silchar, Imphal, Aizawl, and Agartala. The project aligns with the government's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, aiming to generate employment and foster socio-economic development across Meghalaya, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Meanwhile, the Meghalaya govt, through the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), is set to acquire land for the corridor's alignment through 34 villages in East Jaintia Hills district. These include Tuber Shohshrieh, Wapung Shnong, Lad Rymbai Datsimpein, Khlieriat East, Borghat, Umkiang, Ratacherra, and others. Informing the public on Tuesday, the East Jaintia Hills district collector said any new construction within the designated corridor area must receive prior permission from the DC's office. "Unauthorised structures — whether private or commercial — erected within the proposed right of way after the issuance of this notice will not be eligible for compensation," the order stated, adding that it comes into immediate effect.
