The long-delayed Metro projects in Kolkata are back in the corridors of uncertainty.
The urban development ministry has stunned Metro planners here by saying it will review ongoing projects before sanctioning additional funds. Less than 15% of the Rs 11,640.32 crore needed for four projects has been sanctioned, say sources. Officials in Kolkata are now worried whether they will get funds to complete the projects.
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This is one of the first decisions of the urban development ministry after the Narendra Modi government gave it responsibility of Kolkata Metro as well. Earlier, it was under the railways, which also funded its projects.
“Before 2009, it was decided that railways will no longer fund any urban transportation projects as these are not financially viable. There are also certain complications that the railways can’t handle. After Mamata Banerjee took over as railway minister in 2009, she changed the system. She insisted that all projects under the Metro Railway will be funded by railways. This led to complications,” an official said.
The 16.72km-long Joka-BBD Bag Metro is expected to cost Rs 2,913.50 crore but in the last four years, only Rs 321.25 crore has
been spent. An additional Rs 150 crore was sanctioned in the interim budget this year but it needs Rs 2,442.25 crore more. It has run into trouble because land is not being released by the ministries of finance and defence.
The estimated cost of the 18km Noapara-Barasat-via Bimanbandar (airport) project is Rs 2,397.72 crore. Of this only Rs 145.46 crore has been spent till date. An additional Rs 160 crore has been sanctioned this year. The project requires Rs 2,092.26 crore more for completion.
It is also in trouble because the aviation ministry is not ready torelease land inside the Kolkata airport for laying of tracks. Also, there are encroachments on railway land that the state government isn’t too keen to remove.
The 32-km Dum Dum AirportNew Garia via Rajarhat project is estimated to cost Rs 4,259.50 crore but only Rs 625.25 crore has been spent. The sanction this year was a paltry Rs 158 crore and it will require an additional Rs 3,476.25 crore. This project is stalled as the implementing agency is preparing a new alignment between the airport and city centre.
The fourth project is the 14.5 km Baranagar-Barrackpore and Dakshineswar which is expected to cost Rs 2,069.60 crore. A meager Rs 72.50 crore has been spent till now and Rs 20 crore was sanctioned this year. This project has also run into trouble due to encroachment and trouble in shifting of underground utilities.
“When Mamata Banerjee was railway minister, she sanctioned huge amounts of money but these could not be spent and were returned” an official said.
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