How would the L-shaped subway in Kolkata connect the metro to the Howrah Railway Station and benefit commuters?
Kolkata: In the near future, commuters who use the integrated metro station and the Howrah train station should see a major improvement. An L-shaped tunnel that will connect Asia’s biggest railway hub with the East-West Metro station is scheduled to open in June, according to officials.
Improved Commuter Convenience: After it opens, passengers won’t have to go outside the metro station to get to the Howrah train station. Alternatively, customers may go smoothly via the concourse of the Metro station, giving them immediate access to the Howrah railway station, which serves trains from the Eastern and South-Eastern regions.
Afcons, the contractors of the 3.8km Howrah Maidan-Esplanade segment, and the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), which is in charge of the massive 16.6km East-West Metro project, worked together to plan the subway system, taking into account the expected increase in foot traffic. According to a Times of India source, the underground connects the busy railway station and Howrah metro station, which is the biggest and deepest metro station in India, spanning a massive 52,000 square meter floor space.
Designed for High Volume Traffic: The subway is carefully constructed to handle the projected high pedestrian traffic, at a position 9 meters above ground level. Measuring around 100 metres in length and 8 to 13 metres in width, with a total floor space of 915 square metres, it provides direct access to platforms 15 and 16 of the Howrah train station.
Engineering Highlights and Features: The tunnel has two escalators and a staircase at each of its access locations. When it is finished, there will be a canopy installed to match the design of the Howrah metro station. To improve the commuting experience, there are additional facilities, including public speaker systems and CCTV monitoring.
Overcoming Drainage Issues: Water is transported to pumps located next to the emergency access staircase via a network of covered channel drains, which ensures effective drainage throughout the tunnel. The water thereafter enters the metro station’s drainage system.
Construction approach and challenges: The subway is being built between the DRM building and the Metro station, next to platform 15 of the Howrah station, using the top-down construction approach. Due to the high volume of traffic at the train and metro stations, the project presents considerable technical issues. As a result, KMRC, the Eastern and South-Eastern railway authorities, and construction contractor Afcons must carefully plan and collaborate on this project.
