A repetition of 1 September, 2019-like scenario last night with emergency displacement of residents of Bowbazar in the wee hours, had ‘reached an unbearable point’ according to the evacuees.
The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL), the implementing agency of the East-West Corridor at Bowbazar is carrying out the installation works of steel liners inside the east-bound tunnel at Bowbazar.
If all goes as planned, the ongoing work on the two tunnels in the middle leg of the East-West Metro Corridor could be completed by December, informed Member Infrastructure
The occasion was a reason to rejoice for Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) as the entire stretch of the Eastward metro line from Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan across the river Hooghly is now connected.
With the memories of cracks and crevices, which were the last recollections of their homes that had sheltered them through thick and thin, the Barals now wish is to relive their lives in the present rubble, which was once their home.
However, just before completing the remaining stretch of 500 metres from its destination, the tunnelling work had to be stopped once again.
The KMRCL authorities are putting their best efforts to maintain the norms while restarting full fledged work.
As the TBM Chandi became defunct after hitting an aquifer last year on 31 August, its twin, Urvi, will take up the task of excavating the remaining portion, covering a length of around 1.8 km.
The achievement would seem to be still more remarkable as the track has been opened to public, albeit partially, barely a few months after the cave-in at Bowbazar and the displacement of families from hearth and home.
The morning of the ‘day of love,’ was equally enthralling for both motorman S. Chowdhury, and the commuters of the first phase of Line-II.
