India’s much-awaited first underwater metro service is set to be operational by year-end. The services will connect Howrah railway station with Esplanade in Kolkata. With the opening of the operations, the travelling between the century-old twin cities – Howrah and Kolkata will be a cakewalk. The Metro Railway, Kolkata is the only metro in the country to be controlled by Indian Railways.
Construction of stations:-
The construction works of most of the stations between Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch have been completed. The stretch is a part of the East-West Metro corridor. Currently, the national transporter is working to give a final shape to these stations by carrying on the electrification, beautification and other miscellaneous works at the station complex.
Installation of AFC-PC gates at stations:-
To ensure free flow of commuters, the Metro Railway is installing AFC-PC gates at the concourse level of Howrah station for Automatic Fare Collection and Passenger Control. A total of 32 AFC-PC gates will be installed to manage the expected rush. Of these, 20 gates will be bi-directional which will enable station staff to control and change the direction of passenger movement during peak hours. Such flexibility will enable commuters for smooth entry and exit into/from the paid area of Howrah Metro station premises. Significance of AFC-PC gates.
The heavy-duty modern AFC-gates have the capacity to handle 45 passengers per minute. These gates will be put into operation once commercial services from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade commence. The commuters will be able to punch their Metro Tokens or Smart Cards at these gates.
Important stations of East-West Metro corridor:-
The Howrah Maidan station of the East-West Metro corridor is going to be the deepest metro station in the country. The Esplanade metro station of the corridor is going to be one of the most important stations. The station will be the interchange point for both North-South and East-West corridors.