Kolkata: Metro commuters in the southern part of the city may have to make alternative travel arrangements on Sunday, September 13, as services between Tollygunge and Briji will remain suspended for several hours.
According to Metro Railway sources, the affected section will remain closed from 9 am to 6.30 pm due to maintenance-related work. Normal metro operations on the stretch are expected to resume after 6.30 pm.
The disruption is likely to affect regular passengers as well as office-goers and others travelling through the southern end of the Blue Line. Since Sunday metro services on the Green and Blue lines generally begin at 9 am, the scheduled maintenance will result in a significant interruption during the daytime.
Metro authorities have indicated that such maintenance work is necessary to keep the ageing metro infrastructure in proper working condition. Kolkata Metro, which has been serving the city for around four decades, requires periodic maintenance at different locations. The authorities are also working towards addressing infrastructure-related issues in a systematic manner.
The decision to carry out the work on a Sunday is expected to limit the inconvenience to passengers, as the number of commuters is generally lower compared with weekdays.
Recent Metro Disruptions
Metro service interruptions have become a recurring concern for Kolkata commuters, with technical and operational issues occasionally affecting services during busy hours.
In one such recent incident, smoke was reportedly noticed inside a metro compartment at Belgachia station, triggering panic among passengers. The incident occurred at around 4.30 pm, following which the underground station was also reportedly affected by smoke.
The affected train was subsequently removed from service, after which normal conditions were restored. The incident once again highlighted the challenges faced by Metro Railway in maintaining uninterrupted services across the city's extensive network.
Kolkata Metro’s Engineering Challenges
At the same time, Kolkata Metro has undertaken several technically challenging projects as part of its expansion and modernisation efforts.
One of the notable engineering challenges came during the construction of the East-West Metro corridor, now known as the Green Line, when a section of the tunnel was constructed beneath the Ganges. More than 500 metres of tunnel had to be created below the river, making the project a significant engineering undertaking.
A similar challenge has been encountered in the Purple Line, where the metro tunnel passes beneath the Ganges. The tunnel runs approximately 12 metres below the riverbed, requiring considerable engineering expertise to execute the project safely.
Metro engineers have described such underground construction as a major challenge, particularly because of the geological and technical difficulties involved in building tunnels beneath a major river.
For passengers travelling through the Tollygunge–Briji section on Sunday, the temporary suspension means that alternative modes of transport may be necessary between 9 am and 6.30 pm. Normal Metro services are expected to resume after the scheduled maintenance work is completed.
