Kolkata Metro to begin trial run beneath Bowbazar tunnel, service set to reach Secretariat by 21 Jan

Kolkata Metro is set to begin the long-awaited trial run beneath the Bowbazar area, marking a key phase in the expansion of the East-West Metro corridor. The trial run is scheduled to begin on January 21, at 11 PM, starting from Sector 5 and heading towards the Secretariat via the newly completed western tunnel beneath Bowbazar. The trial will run through the night, continuing until 4 AM on January 22. This trial run follows years of challenges faced during the tunnel construction process.

The construction of the westward tunnel, which connects Sector 5 to Howrah, has been plagued by multiple setbacks. In August 2019, a major collapse occurred in Bowbazar, leading to a temporary halt in the project. The tunnel was further damaged in May and October 2022 when water flooded the tunnel during the excavation process, delaying progress. Despite these challenges, the tunnel was successfully completed in December 2024, and the third line was electrified, allowing for the initiation of test runs.

The eastward tunnel, which connects Sector 5 to Sealdah, was completed earlier, and trial runs for this section have already been conducted. With the successful completion of the western tunnel, the first phase of the trial run will test the full route between Sector 5 and Secretariat. The trial is expected to take place during the late hours, minimizing disruption to daily commuters. If the trial run is successful, it will pave the way for regular metro services, which are expected to cut the travel time between Howrah and Sealdah to just 11 minutes, significantly easing congestion on the city's roads.

However, before the metro can begin full-scale passenger services, the signaling system for the entire East-West Metro corridor will undergo a necessary upgrade. This modernization will require the metro service to be completely shut down between February 8 and March 24. Both the East and West sections of the East-West Metro line will be closed for this period to allow for the system upgrades, which are essential for the safe and efficient operation of the metro network.

Once the system is upgraded and the trial run is deemed successful, regular services are expected to begin. The upgraded metro will provide faster and more reliable transportation for commuters, cutting down travel time significantly between key locations in the city. A final decision regarding the trial run will be made on January 20, 2025, with residents and daily commuters eagerly awaiting the commencement of this new phase in Kolkata's metro development.