Kolkata Light Rail Transit System. (L.R.T)

Kolkata paved its way as the first metropolitan in India to have the underground railway system, proudly called the Calcutta Metro Rails. Initially it was started on a trial basis between Esplanade to Bhowanipur (now called Netaji Bhawan). With the desired success in the project, the rail now spans from North to South of the city, a journey which by local on road transport would take nearly one and a half hours, can take only 30 odd minutes starting from Tollygunge to DumDum. The South end extension is on its way covering another 14 Kms. Kolkata was pioneer in this. This rail system in Calcutta / Kolkata is over 40 years old!

(Pic: Kolkata Metro)

Now, it is a multi billion Rupees project, around Rs 60 billion, to build the nations first Elevated Light Rail Transit System. It, as foreseen woyld transfor the city's life style, especially the long minutes of traffic snarls. Some of the pain staking traffic snarls was overcome by constructing multi flyovers all over the city. In a span of one to two years, during the 2001-2003 sessions, three flyovers started plying, one at A.J.C Bose Road, another at Taratala, the third one at Park Street. They helped the traffic snarls.

The Elevated LTR, already in action in some of the major cities of the world like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Beijing, Melbourne, etc will now set its wheel rolling in the Eastern Hand of India, Kolkata. The project is targeted to be completed in two phases. The first one starting from Behala (Taratola) to Esplanade, while in the second phase the tracks would stretch from Esplanade (via Sealdah) to Barrackpore.

(pic: Los Angeles LRT)

It will cover over 40 Kms of distance having about 37 Nodal Points or Station. The full list is yet to be put into public, but what the public over heard is that this would have four coaches, capable of taking arounf 120 to 150 people when in full capacity. Since it is elevated to about 12 meters from the ground level, it shall always be acting like a flyover. This 2013-14 dream for the city is on its way from this fiscal year. It shall cover the routes @ 40+Kms/hr. Such a cost effective and ecofriendly life style was long due for the citizen of this metropolis.

Lets see, what comes up!