Kolkata, May 24 -- After the first phase of work was completed ahead of schedule last week, the second phase of construction on the long-delayed Chingrighata section of Kolkata Metro's Orange Line is also likely to finish before the stipulated deadline.
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) started the second phase at 8 pm on Friday to bridge a crucial gap in the viaduct between piers 318 and 319 over the Garia-bound flank of the EM Bypass. The 366-metre missing link had delayed Metro connectivity from Kavi Subhash to Salt Lake Sector V for more than a year due to pending permissions over traffic management concerns.
After interventions by the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court, authorities finally granted traffic blocks to facilitate the work. A senior traffic official said on Sunday evening that most of the work had already been completed.
"All 12 segments have been launched successfully. Chemical pasting work has also been completed. Traction work involving cables is nearly finished and only curing work remains," the official said.
According to officials, the curing process was expected to continue from 10 pm on Sunday till around 6 am on Monday. Authorities expressed hope that the affected stretch would reopen by 6 am, although official permission for restrictions remains valid till 8 am.
Earlier, during the first phase between May 15 and May 18, engineers installed a 28-metre concrete deck between piers 317 and 318 over the Ultadanga-bound flank of the EM Bypass ahead of schedule.
Traffic diversions remained in force till Monday morning. Completion of the girder-launching work will now allow Metro Railway to begin track-laying activities on the stretch.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.