Work begins for Joka-Esplanade Metro’s 5km underground section
Times of India | 21 April 2024
Kolkata: Work for the underground tunnelling section of the Joka-Esplanade corridor, also called the Purple line, has now started. Implementing agency RVNL has started building the shaft from where the tunnel boring machines (TBMs) will be launched for burrowing and building the underground tunnels. The shaft is being built inside the St Thomas’ School grounds in Kidderpore.
The Purple line currently runs 8km from Joka to Majerhat.The corridor, from Joka to Esplanade, will cover 14km, of which 5km is underground. “The first phase of tunnelling will be from Kidderpore to Victoria station. But the TBMs will be deployed only after the shaft construction inside St Thomas’ School is completed,” a Metro Railway spokesperson said on Saturday.
TOI reported on April 6 that the construction of the station box of the Victoria station has started, with the diaphragm walls, which will isolate the under-construction structure from the surrounding soil and ground water and allow safe excavation of construction. L&T is contracted to build the Rs 2,447crore 5km Mominpore-Esplanade section. L&T has also barricaded land for starting the Purple line’s Park Street Metro station, which will have an interface with the existing North-South corridor’s Park Street station. Cordoning of the land opposite Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) had started in Sept last year. Over the past six months, among other pre-construction work (like mobilizing equipment), the Fountain of Joy was dismantled.
“To construct the Park Street station of the Purple line, three Maidan clubs, Calcutta Police Club, Calcutta Kennel Club and Rajasthan Club will be temporarily relocated outside the construction zone. To allow these clubs to continue to function while the construction is underway, portable cabins are being provided. They will function as club houses and accommodate the needs of the clubs and administrative work,” the Metro Railway spokesperson said. He said five such containers have already been installed on the vacant space of the Maidan near Park Street. The rest of the containers will be arriving soon.
“For construction of Esplanade Metro station, Kolkata Mounted Police paddock will be relocated temporarily to another location of the Maidan near Shahid Minar,” the official said. To make way for the Purple line’s tunnels, which will be built in the cut-and-cover method beyond Park Street, Manohardas Tarag will be dewatered. PWD has already handed over the water body to RVNL, which will restore it once the construction is over,” he added.