Free Travel Infor mation Network

The Kolkata Metro is an underground rail network in the city of Kolkata. This network has the status of zonal railway. This underground railway system was started its operations in 1984. These railway lines run from Dum-Dum in the North and extend to Kavi Nazrul in South through Park Street, Esplanade which is situated in the centre of the city.

Bidhan Chandra Roy, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, conceived the idea of building an Underground Railway in 1949 for Kolkata city. The beginning of the first metro car was on the lines by 1984. The first section of this network opened between Esplanade & Bhowanipore. The metro cars were put down on the track close to Esplanade by crane, by digging the surface of the road. There were just ordinary revolving gates at that time which served as exits. After 2 years of the beginning of the metros lines were extended up to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar which is at the southern end. After some time the Magnetic tickets and other entry gates were also introduced. The numbers of compartments were increased to 8 in each train.

 The further construction of this project was disturbed by many political incidents aftre the year 1986. This work was restarted after 6 years later in the year 1994 services were started from Dum Dum to Shyambazar. There were only 4 trains on this route at that time. In the year 1995 services from Dum Dum to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar were started. During this time, there was introduction of more magnetic gates and escalators.

Features

The construction of Metro is very complex and requires several applications of new technologies. Indian engineers adopted latest technologies by their personal experience and by their studies abroad. Several methods which were: 

'Cut and cover method of building using the diaphragm walls.

'The compressed air and airlocks were used for Shield Tunneling.

'There was the system of Air-conditioning and ventilation which was made for environmental control of stations.

'There is also the facility of Underground substations which have dry type transformers and circuit breakers.
'There are Micro-processor-based train control systems for some of the substations.
 
'There is also a facility of Automatic ticket vending system.

Reservation for women
Lately the Kolkata Metro Railway has come up with the system of reserving complete compartments for women.
This system has made commuting convenient for most of the commuters.