Template:Infobox Public transit
Kolkata Monorail was a rail-based transit project planned for the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. This was the first proposed monorail in the country.[1][2][3][4]
History
2004 & 2008
The initial plan regarding the monorail was floated in 2004.[5][6] In November that 2008, the first corridor (Budge Budge to Taratala) was finalised and the project was awarded to Andromeda Technologies, at a total cost of Rs. 1,200 crore, along with a German company, Derap AG & Helbling Technik AG and Fernmeldewerk Munchen Aubing, as technology and signalling partners, respectively.[7] It was a build-own-operate public-private partnership model between Government of West Bengal and Andromeda Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The coaches were supposed to be initially imported from Germany, and later locally produced at Titagarh Wagons, Jessop and Texmaco.[1] It was targeted that the phase 1 corridor would be operational by the next 4–5 years. The 2nd phase was a 52 km long route from Taratala to Rajarhat.[7] But, the project was put on hold, due to lack of support from financial institution and unfavourable conditions, and Andromeda Technologies pulled out from it. The sanction of Orange Line in 2010-11 Railway Budget, led to the end of the monorail corridor, since both had almost the same alignment.[8][3]
2014
Scomi Engineering, expressed its intention to develop monorail system in the city, especially in New Town, with a budget of Rs. 2000-2500 crore.[9]
2016
In 2016, the plan was revived. A 70 km corridor from Budge Budge to Ruby on EM Bypass, via Budge Budge Trunk Road, New Alipore and Prince Anwar Shah Road, was proposed, to connect parts South 24 Parganas with the Orange Line.[10] The state industry promotion and development board approved the proposal submitted by Burn Standard. Thus, Burn Standard was the implementation agency of the project in PPP model with Government of West Bengal, at a cost of Rs. 4,216 crore. The Physical construction was planned to begin by March 2017 with a 3-year deadline.[6][4][11] The project again came to a halt after few years.
2018
West Bengal Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation in October 2018 proposed monorail for New Town, the fast-growing planned satellite city of Kolkata and Salt Lake, another planned city adjacent to New Town. The feasibility study was conducted and cost evaluation of the project was done. The line would start at Ultandanga, and pass via Salt Lake Sector I & III and would end at New Town, thus connecting Green Line and Orange Line. The total cost of project was estimated at Rs. 4500 crore.[12][13][14]
Current status
Again in 2020, Braithwaite & Co., started talks with Government of West Bengal to set up monorail in the state. It is planned to run between Sealdah and Titagarh. The corridor is still in planning stage.[15] In February 2020, New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) shelved the monorail proposal in and around New Town, and preferred to opt for a cheaper ropeway system.[16]
Corridors
| Year | 2006 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase | 1 | 2 | ||||
| Corridor | Budge Budge Template:En dash Taratala | Taratala Template:En dash Rajarhat | NewTown | Budge Budge Template:En dash Ruby | Ultadanga Template:En dash New Town | Sealdah Template:En dash Titagarh |
| Length | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Template:Convert | Template:ConvertTemplate:Note | Template:ConvertTemplate:Note |
| Status | Proposed | Scrapped | Scrapped | Proposed | Scrapped | Proposed |
Template:Note: Approximate Length
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indias first monorail to come up in Kolkata. The Financial Express(2008-11-22). Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ↑ Kolkata monorail project likely to begin from March(22 November 2008). Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kolkata Monorail mass transit system to be operational by mid-2011. India Automotive(22 November 2008). Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bengal turns to Burn Standard for Kolkata monorail project. Business Standard(2016-09-29). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ↑ Kolkata on a high: state seals Monorail MoU. The Indian Express. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Light at end of tunnel for Kolkata's monorail project, 29 September 2016. The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Construction of first stretch of monorail to start in March. oneindia.com(2008-11-21). Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ↑ Rail set to take over East-West - jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj. The Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ↑ Monorail giant eyes Newtown project(21 August 2014). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ↑ Kolkata to get its own monorail. Hindustan Times(2016-09-29). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ↑ Kolkata to get its own monorail service, CM Mamata says will soon sign MoU, Kundu, Indrajit. India Today(September 29, 2016). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ↑ HIDCO explores options for starting monorail services in Salt lake, New Town. millenniumpost.in(2018-10-04). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ↑ HIDCO, exploring options for monorail services. United News of India(27 October 2018). Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ↑ India Smart City Mission. smartcities.gov.in/. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ↑ Monorail services to be introduced in Bengal soon. millenniumpost.in(2020-01-31). Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ↑ Soon, ropeway services to connect areas in New Town. millenniumpost.in(2020-02-07). Retrieved 2020-05-05.
Template:Kolkata topics Template:Rapid transit in India Template:Railway lines in Eastern India