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Kolkata Metro has announced that train services on the Green Line will be suspended every Sunday from March 23. This decision will allow the testing of the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The affected stretch runs from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V on the East-West Metro corridor. While this may cause temporary inconvenience, it is an important step towards improving the efficiency and safety of the metro system.
Why Metro Services Are Being Halted
The temporary suspension of metro services, known as a "traffic block," is necessary to carry out detailed tests on the CBTC system. These tests will help enhance the signalling and communication systems along the Green Line. The decision follows the recent completion of tunnel work between Esplanade and Sealdah stations, bringing the metro system closer to full operation across the entire corridor.
A metro spokesperson confirmed, "Metro will implement a complete traffic block every Sunday from March 23 to conduct CBTC system testing along the entire East-West Metro corridor (Green Line) from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V."
The Current Status of Kolkata Metro's Green Line
At present, metro services are available on two sections of the Green Line:
- From Sector 5 to Sealdah
- From Esplanade to Howrah Maidan
However, the 2.5-km stretch between Esplanade and Sealdah is not yet operational. This delay is due to complications in tunnel construction, including a major cave-in at Bowbazar in September 2019. The incident occurred when the tunnel boring machine hit an underground water source, causing water to seep in. Similar incidents in the following years have slowed down work on this critical stretch.
Previous Suspensions for Testing
This is not the first time Kolkata Metro has halted services for CBTC system testing. In fact, there have been several suspensions recently:
- March 8 and 9 - Metro services were paused for testing.
- February 13 to 16 and February 20 to 23 - Previous service suspensions for CBTC system evaluation.
These interruptions are necessary to ensure that the new system will improve metro reliability and safety once fully implemented.
Kolkata Metro's decision to stop services every Sunday is a key step towards achieving a fully functional and advanced metro system. While passengers may face inconvenience for now, these tests will lead to smoother and safer metro operations in the future. Once the Green Line is completely operational, commuters in Kolkata will experience a more efficient and modern metro service.
