Kolkata Metro will reduce the frequency of services on the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section starting September 8, 2024, due to emergency maintenance work. The changes will affect non-peak hours on weekdays, with trains running less frequently between 7 am and 9 am, 11 am and 5 pm, and 8 pm and 9:55 pm, as per an official statement. The maintenance schedule is expected to last until further notice.
This stretch of the East-West Metro corridor, operational since March 2024, includes a segment running under the Ganga River. Despite the reduced frequency, trains will continue stopping at each station for 30 seconds as usual.
Key Features of the Howrah-Esplanade Metro Line
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year, the 4.8-kilometer Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section is a vital part of Kolkata’s metro infrastructure. It features the deepest metro station in India, Howrah station, located 30 meters underground. The section also includes a 520-meter underwater tunnel beneath the Ganga, allowing trains to cross the river in just 45 seconds.
Upcoming Infrastructure Upgrades
In addition to the frequency reduction on the Howrah-Esplanade line, Kolkata Metro is preparing to replace its steel third rail with an aluminium one on the Dakshineswar-New Garia corridor. Groundwork for this replacement has already started at Girish Park, with plans to replace 200 meters of rail this weekend. The aluminium rail is expected to reduce energy loss by 84%, with 35 kilometers of it planned for installation over the next two years.
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