Kolkata Metro Line 1

Dakshineswar - Kavi Subhash
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleIndia Kolkata Metropolitan Area, India
Termini
Connecting linesGreen Line Purple Line Yellow Line Pink Line Orange Line
Stations26
Websitehttps://mtp.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemKolkata Metro
Operator(s)Kolkata Metro Railways
Depot(s)Noapara, Tollygunge and New Garia
Rolling stockIntegral Coach Factory (ICF) and CRRC Dalian and BEML
Daily ridership600,000 to 650,000 (Weekdays)
Ridership380,000 (Weekends)
History
Opened24 October 1984 (1984-10-24)
Last extension22 February 2021 (2021-02-22)
Technical
Line length32.25 kilometres (20.04 mi)[1]
Number of tracks2
Character
  • Surface – 2
  • Underground – 15
  • Elevated – 9
Track gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Operating speed55 km/h (34 mph) (in service)
SignallingCommunications-based train control
Route map

Dakshineswar ferry/water interchange
Baranagar
Noapara
Keshtopur Canal
Dum Dum
Belgachia
Circular Canal
Shyambazar
Shobhabazar Sutanuti
Girish Park
Mahatma Gandhi Road
Central
Chandni Chowk
Esplanade
Park Street
Maidan
Rabindra Sadan
Netaji Bhavan
Jatin Das Park
Kalighat
Tollygunge
Rabindra Sarobar
Mahanayak Uttam Kumar
Netaji
Masterda Surya Sen
Gitanjali
Kavi Nazrul
Shahid Khudiram
Kavi Subhash

The Line 1, Blue Line, also known as North–South Metro of the Kolkata Metro, is a rapid transit system serving Kolkata in Indian state of West Bengal. It consists of 26 operational stations from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash. Nine of the stations are elevated, 2 at-grade and the remaining 15 are underground, with a total distance of 31.3 km (19.4 mi). The line connects Dakshineswar and New Garia and uses 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge rolling stock. Dakshineswar was opened on 22 February 2021 is an elevated station located 4.1 km (2.5 mi) north of Noapara . It was the first underground railway to be built in India, with the first operations commencing in October 1984 and the full stretch that was initially planned being operational by February 1995. On 28 December 2010, it became the 17th zone of the Indian Railways.[2] Being the country's first, and a completely indigenous process, the construction of the Kolkata Metro was more of a trial-and-error affair, in contrast to the Delhi Metro, which has seen the involvement of numerous international consultants. As a result, it took nearly 23 years to completely construct around 15 km (9.3 mi) underground railway from Birpara up to Tollygunge Metro Station.

Public transport experts have suggested that the line be extended from Dakshineswar to Bally (where it can connect with local trains of the Howrah division of Eastern Railway) and eventually to Dankuni, an emerging industrial city.

History

The laying of the founding stone was done in 1972, but actual construction of line 1 started only in 1978. Line 1 is 31.38 km (19.50 mi) long with 26 stations (see above). Running of the first metro car on the line by 1984 was considered a great engineering challenge. Former railways minister A. B. A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury took a massive effort to perform it. The first section opened between Esplanade & Bhawanipore (now called Netaji Bhawan). First day Metro Railway Kolkata was started by Sri Tapan Kumar Nath and Sri Sanjay Sil. There were no connections of this stretch with the two depots at Dum Dum & Tollygunge (Now called Mahanayak Uttam Kumar). So metro cars had to be put down on the track near Esplanade by crane, by directly digging the road surface. Initially, only four-car trains were run until 1986. There were no magnetic gates or escalators at that time and ordinary revolving gates served as exits. The Metro too operated on only a single line. Two years later, line 1 extended up to Tollygunge, at the southern end. At the same time, the metro service was extended to the double line. Magnetic tickets and more entry gates were also introduced at that time. The number of compartments in each train was increased to eight.

Metro service was also started from Dum Dum, at the northern end, to Belgachia in parallel with the extension of the line to the south. But this short portion was not popular and the service was closed down to be restarted when the entire stretch along the north–south corridor was completed.

After 1986 many political incidents hampered the construction, and work almost stopped for nearly six years. After restarting work, the Dum Dum to Shyambazar metro service was started in 1994. This portion was served by four-car trains. Two months later, the Esplanade – Chandni Chowk section was opened and Chandni Chowk – Central section opened three months later. The service from Dum Dum to Tollygunge started in 1995, with Mahatma Gandhi Road metro station, opening in 1996. During this time, more magnetic gates and escalators were added and the revolving gates were slowly phased out.

In 2009, a large number of stations on Line 1 were renamed by then Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee.[3]

On 22 February 2021, the Noapara – Dakshineswar stretch was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Timeline

The following dates represent the dates the section opened to the public, not the private inauguration.

History
Extension date Terminals Length
24 October 1984EsplanadeBhowanipore3.40 kilometers (2.11 mi)
12 November 1984Dum DumBelgachhia2.15 kilometers (1.34 mi)
29 April 1986Bhowanipur (now Netaji Bhavan)Tollygunge (now Mahanayak Uttam Kumar)4.24 kilometers (2.63 mi)
13 August 1994BelgachhiaShyambazar1.63 kilometers (1.01 mi)
2 October 1994EsplanadeChandni Chowk0.71 kilometers (0.44 mi)
19 February 1995ShyambazarGirish Park1.92 kilometers (1.19 mi)
19 February 1995Chandni ChowkCentral0.60 kilometers (0.37 mi)
27 September 1995CentralGirish Park1.80 kilometers (1.12 mi)
22 August 2009Tollygunge (Mahanayak Uttam Kumar)Garia Bazar (now Kavi Nazrul)5.85 kilometers (3.64 mi)
7 October 2010Garia Bazar (now Kavi Nazrul)New Garia (now Kavi Subhash)3.00 kilometers (1.86 mi)
10 July 2013Dum DumNoapara2.09 kilometers (1.30 mi)
22 February 2021 Noapara Dakshineswar 4.1 Kilometers (2.54 mi)
TotalDakshineswarNew Garia (now Kavi Subhash)31.3 kilometers (19.4 mi)

List of stations (North to South)

The stations of this Corridors are:

Line 1 (Blue Line)
No. Station Name Location Phase Opening Connections Layout Platform Type Depot Coordinates Notes
EnglishBengali
1Dakshineswarদক্ষিণেশ্বরDakshineswar 722 February 2021 Dakshineswar

Dakshineswar Bus Stand

Alambazar More bus Stop

ferry/water interchange Ma Bhabotarini Jetty Ghat

Elevated Side  
2BaranagarবরাহনগরBaranagar (Planned)

Baranagar Road

Dunlop Bus Stand

22°37′23″N 88°25′38″E / 22.62306°N 88.42722°E / 22.62306; 88.42722Also known as Dunlop Crossing[4]
3Noaparaনোয়াপাড়াNoapara 610 July 2013 (Under Construction)

34C Bus Stand

Health More Bus Stop

Gharui Paschimpara Bus Stop

Both side & island Noapara depot22°38′23″N 88°23′38″E / 22.63972°N 88.39389°E / 22.63972; 88.39389
4Dum DumদমদমDum Dum 1B12 November 1984 Dum Dum Jn

Dum Dum Station Bus Stop

Side  
5Belgachiaবেলগাছিয়াBelgachia

Belgachia Tram Depot

Belgachia Bus Depot

Belgachia Metro Bus Stop

Belgachia More Bus Stop

Underground Island
6Shyambazarশ্যামবাজারShyambazar 3A15 February 1995

Shyambazar Tram Depot

Shyambazar Metro Bus Stop

Shyambazar 5 Point Bus Stop

Shyambazar Bus Stand
7Shobhabazar Sutanutiশোভাবাজার সুতানুটিShobhabazar

Shobhabazar Metro Bus Stop

Jaipuria College Bus Stop

8Girish Parkগিরিশ পার্কJorasanko Girish Park Bus StopAlso known as Jorasanko
9Mahatma Gandhi Roadমহাত্মা গান্ধী রোডBurrabazar 3B27 September 1995 Mahajati Sadan Bus Stop

Ram Mandir Bus Stop

Muhammad Ali Park Bus Stop

Muhammad Ali Park Tram Stop
Also known as Mahajati Sadan
10Centralসেন্ট্রালBowbazar 3A15 February 1995

Central Avenue Bus Stop

Central Metro Station Bus Stop

School of Tropical Medicine Bus Stop

Medical College Bus Stop

Both side & islandAlso known as Bowbazar
11Chandni Chowkচাঁদনি চকChandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk Bus Stop

Victoria House Bus Stop

Island
12Esplanadeএসপ্ল্যানেডDharmatala 1A24 October 1984 (Under Construction)

(Under Construction)

Esplanade Tram Depot

Esplanade Bus Station(WBTC,CTC,SBSTC,NBSTC)
International Bus Terminus. Also known as Dharmatala / Chowringhee
13 Park Street পার্ক স্ট্রীট Park Street (Under Construction)

Park Street Bus Stop

Side Now Mother Teresa Sarani
14 Maidan ময়দান Maidan Maidan Bus Stop Island
15 Rabindra Sadan রবীন্দ্র সদন Rabindra Sadan Exide More Bus Stop

Rabindra Sadan Bus Stop

Chowringhee Road-Calcutta Club Bus Stop

Also known as Exide
16 Netaji Bhavan নেতাজি ভবন Bhawanipore Netaji Bhawan Bus Stop

Jadu Babur Bazar Bus Stop

Also known as Bhawanipore
17 Jatin Das Park যতীন দাস পার্ক Hazra Junction 2 29 April 1986 Hazra Bus Stop

Jatin Das Park Bus Stop

Sujata Sadan Bus Stop

Also known as Hazra
18 Kalighat কালীঘাট Kalighat Rasbehari Crossing Tram Stop

Rashbehari Crossing Bus Stop

Rashbehari Gurudwara Bus Stop

Also known as Rashbehari
19 Rabindra Sarobar রবীন্দ্র সরোবর Rabindra Sarobar Tollygunge

Charu Market Tram Stop

Rabindra Sarobar Bus Stop

Bhabani Cinema Bus Stop

Also known as Charu Market
20 Mahanayak Uttam Kumar মহানায়ক উত্তমকুমার Tollygunge Tollygunge Tram Depot

Tollygunge Bus Depot

Tollygunge Tram Depot Bus Stop

At Grade Both side & island Tollygunge depot Also known as Tollygunge
21 Netaji নেতাজি Kudghat 4 22 August 2009 Kudghat Bus Stand Elevated Side   Also known as Kudghat
22 Masterda Surya Sen মাস্টারদা সূর্য সেন Bansdroni Bansdroni Bus Stand Also known as Bansdroni
23 Gitanjali গীতাঞ্জলি Naktala Rathtala Bus Stop

Naktala Minibus Stand

Bunty Cinema Bus Stop

Also known as Naktala
24 Kavi Nazrul কবি নজরুল Garia Garia Metro Bus Stop

Garia More Bus Stop

Garia Bazar Bus Stop

Garia 6 Number Bus Stand

Garia 5 Number Bus Stand

Also known as Garia Bazar
25 Shahid Khudiram শহিদ ক্ষুদিরাম Briji 5 7 October 2010 Khudiram Metro Bus Stop

Dhalai Bridge Bus Stop

Also known as Dhalai Bridge
26 Kavi Subhash কবি সুভাষ New Garia (Under Construction)

New Garia

New Garia Bus Stand

At Grade New Garia depot Also known as New Garia
Kolkata Metro rake on the North-South line.

Alignment & interchanges

Dakshineswar, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Park Street, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, Netaji, Masterda Surya Sen, Gitanjali, Kavi Nazrul, Shahid Khudiram and Kavi Subhash have side platforms; all other stations have island platforms. Central and Noapara are exceptions as they have both platforms on the sides as well as in the centre. Dakshineswar, Baranagar, Dum Dum, Rabindra Sarovar & Kavi Subhash have connections to interchange with Kolkata Suburban Railway. Shyambazar, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Esplanade, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar & Mahanayak Uttam Kumar stations have connections to the tram network. EM Bypass can be accessed from the Shahid Khudiram metro station and Kavi Subhash metro station.

Extension up to New Garia (2010)

Mamata Banerjee during her first tenure as the railway minister initiated the project of Tollygunge – Garia metro extension. During her second tenure (2009–2011) she inaugurated the extension, and also introduced new Air Conditioned rakes, manufactured indigenously at the Integral Coach Factory.

The new extension to Garia Bazar in the south opened to the public on 23 August 2009. The Garia Bazar station was named after Kavi Nazrul. A final extension, in the southern end, from Kavi Nazrul (Garia Bazar) to Kavi Subhash (New Garia) was inaugurated on 7 October 2010, bringing the total number of stations to 23. On the same day, two Air-Conditioned rakes were also pressed into service.

Extension up to Noapara (2013) and Dakshineswar (2021)

The line was extended up to Noapara from Dum Dum on 10 July 2013. The line was further extended from Noapara to Dakshineswar (4.1 km) is now complete & operational. It will be met by a metro line from Barrackpore at Baranagar (12.5 km).[5] Trial runs for this stretch started on 23 December 2020, after delay due to COVID-19 pandemic. The stretch was inaugurated on 22 February 2021 & commercial operations began from the following day.[6]

The stations on this stretch are :

  1. Noapara
  2. Baranagar
  3. Dakshineswar

Features

Technical features

Metro construction is of a very complex nature requiring the application of several new technologies in the fields of civil, electrical, signaling and telecommunication engineering. Indian engineers backed by their own experience and supplemented by their studies abroad adopted advanced technologies in the following fields for the first time in India.

  • Cut and cover method of construction using diaphragm walls and sheet piles.
  • Use of extensive decking to keep the traffic flowing over the cut while construction is in progress underneath.
  • Shield tunneling using compressed air and airlocks.
  • Ballastless track using elastic fastenings, rubber pads, epoxy mortar and nylon inserts.
  • Air-conditioning and ventilation system for environmental control of stations and tunnels.
  • Third Rail current collection system for traction.
  • Underground substations with dry-type transformers and SF6 circuit breakers.
  • Tunnel-Train VHF-radio communication system.
  • Microprocessor-based train control and supervisory remote control system for substations.
  • Automatic ticket vending and checking system.

Salient features

Total route length 31.3 km (19.4 mi)
Stations 26 (15 underground, 2 on the surface and 9 elevated)
Gauge 1676 mm (5 ft 6 in), Indian Broad Gauge
Cars per train 8
Maximum permissible speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Average speed 30–31 km/h (18.6–19.3 mph)
Voltage 750 V D.C.
Method of current collection Third Rail
Travel Time: Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash 62 minutes (approx.)
Headways Average 10 minutes
Total estimated cost of the project 18.25 billion (US$228.6 million) (approx.)
Environment control Air condtioners are used in all trains.

Proposed Feature

Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) are a system of full height/half height motorized sliding doors that provide controlled access to the trains and protect the platform edge. PSD work is proposed for all stations in this line to minimize suicidal cases common in this route. This plan was proposed after the successful utilization of Platform Screen Doors to keep the no. of suicidal cases in Kolkata Metro Line 2 to absolute zero.[7]

Rolling stock

Kolkata Metro Old fleet, Discontinued in 2021

The whole fleet is vestibuled. Carbodies and mechanical components were made by ICF with electrical components made by NGEF, Bangalore. The fleet is unique in that it is the only railroad equipment in India with end-mounted cab doors (except for some of the WAG-6 series locomotives).

ICF has specifically designed, manufactured and supplied these cars for the first underground railway system. The special features incorporated are:

  • Traction power supply through third rail current collection system.
  • Automatic door opening/closing and continuous monitoring of the transit.
  • Automatic Train Stop (ATS) system which will automatically apply the brakes in case of human failure.
  • Automatic train operation (ATO) with the driver acting as the train supervisor (optional).
  • A public address system is provided on the trains to announce approaching stations. A central dispatcher can contact any of the train crew and also make important announcements directly to passengers over the system.

With all these features, the design and manufacturing process of these cars to a very high standard of reliability and safety has been a challenge. This was achieved without any technical collaboration.

Reservation for women

In 2008, the Kolkata Metro Railway experimented with the practice of reserving two entire compartments for women.[8]

This system was found to be ineffective and caused inconvenience for a lot of commuters (including women) and the plan was eventually dropped by the metro authority. But a certain section of seats in each of the eight compartments is reserved for women.

Problems with this line

The founder of Delhi Metro, E. Sreedharan said Indian Railways are not experts at urban transport, and misplanned the Kolkata metro from the beginning.[9] A private company should run the metro and can bring it up to standard in five years.[9]

Since Kolkata Metro is under Indian Railways, it can't take its own independent decisions. It has to rely on Indian Railways for everything (like rakes etc.). The rakes are ordered directly from ICF without floating any global tenders. And ICF being inexperienced in manufacturing metro rakes, has delivered faulty rakes. Thus causing snags and accidents.

See also

References

  1. "Kolkata Metro Map".
  2. "Kolkata Metro is now the 17th zone of Indian Railways". The Times of India. 29 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  3. "Game of the name".
  4. TNN. "Mamata paves way for Metro's northern journey". Times of India. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  5. Express News Service (3 January 2010). "Mamata lays foundation for Dum Dum-Dakshineswar Metro". Express India. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  6. Mondal, Biswadeep (23 December 2020). "Metrorail Kolkata conducts first trial run of Kolkata's Dakshineswar Metro". Mint.
  7. "Kolkata Metro ने स्टेशन पर सुसाइड रोकने के लिए उठाया ये कदम, सभी प्लेटफॉर्म पर किए जाएंगे खास इंतजाम - Kolkata Metro decision Automatic screen doors will be installed on Platform to Prevent Suicide". Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  8. "Life in a ladies' Metro". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  9. 1 2 "DMRC MD E Sreedharan says many Indian cities need metro rail urgently – Business Today". Businesstoday.intoday.in. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
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