Armed with clearances from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Metro Railway has invited bids for the extension of the Yellow Line, covering 6.8 km from the Airport to Birati. The Rs 13.30 billion contract includes constructing Birati and Michael Nagar stations.
A news report on July 5 titled “Airport Raises the Bar, Barasat Metro Vaults Past Height Hurdle” noted that the metro line, despite missing several deadlines, was overcoming obstacles. The AAI resolved height restrictions for cranes needed for construction and permitted metro work outside the airport. The Yellow Line is planned to start at Noapara and end at Barasat via the airport.
Last week, Metro Railway called for bids for the civil construction of the Yellow Line’s 6.8 km underground extension from Biman Bandar (Airport) to Birati. This followed the AAI’s decision to allow 18-meter-tall cranes for constructing the Airport-New Barrackpore segment of the 11.2 km Noapara-Barasat line. Additionally, the AAI issued the much-anticipated No Objection Certificate (NOC) for work between the airport and Michael Nagar. Discussions are ongoing to resolve issues concerning the New Barrackpore station, situated on the flight path near the runway’s northern end.
According to a metro official, the Rs 13.30 billion contract is part of the Yellow Line’s 11.2 km extension to Barasat in Kolkata’s northeastern suburbs. It includes constructing a 3.6 km metro tunnel, an underground metro station at Birati, and subway work for Birati and Michael Nagar stations. The successful bidder must complete the project within two-and-a-half years. The metro tunnel along the airport boundary will use the RCC (reinforced cement concrete) box-pushing method, without tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The Birati station will be built using the cut-and-cover method.
