West Bengal Chief Minister, Buddhadeb
Bhattacharya launched a Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) at Kolkata on 18
February.
Kolkata Mass Rapid
Transit, a SPV promoted by a consortium led by Srei Infrastructure, West Bengal
Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation and Czech based Amex
International, the technology partner has been floated to implement the project.
The Rs.6,000 crore project will be
implemented in two phases and is expected to be completed within four to five
years from commencement of construction. The LRTS project will stretch over 40
km and will comprise two corridors namely - Joka-Esplanade and the Esplanade-Barrackpore
sector.The airconditioned LRTS will start from north and end at the southern
part of the city through central district connecting 37 stations including
Taratala, Khidderpore, AJC Bose Road, Park Street, Esplanade, Sealdah,
Shyambazar, Dunlop, Khardha, Titagarh and Barrackpore.
Consulting Engineering Services will
be preparing the DPR by September after which the project will go to JNNURM for
viability gap funding.
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