By IANS,
Kolkata: Kolkata Metro Railway (KMR), the country’s first underground railway carrying over 4.75 lakh commuters daily, was Wednesday upgraded to an independent railway zone, giving it wider financial and decision-making powers.
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that KMR, which was a construction company since its inception Dec 29, 1972 under the railways, has been upgraded into an independent zone.
It will now be the 17th zonal railway.
“There was a need for upgrading KMR as zonal railway because it is undergoing extension in several directions. So, for development of the Metro and its easy and smooth functioning, it has been upgraded into a full-fledged zone,” said Banerjee.
More infrastructure will come up shortly and simultaneously the employees will enjoy privileges enjoyed by their counterparts in other zones, she said.
“Metro extension projects worth over Rs.10,000 crore have been sanctioned and it will be extended to Joka-BBD Bag, New Garia-Dum Dum via Rajarhat, Noapara-Airport-Barasat and Dum Dum-Barrackpore-Dakshineswar via Baranagar routes,” she said.
Banerjee also commenced work of the 8.26-km Joka-Majherhat section in the first phase of the 15.76-km Joka-BBD Bag project.