Govt sanctions ₹895 crore railway projects for Kolkata Metro, bridge safety
Synopsis
The Union government's ₹895 crore railway sanction addresses two long-overdue infrastructure gaps: a 1980s-era Kolkata Metro power system that limits train frequency, and a Damodar bridge partly built in 1903 that carries India's busiest coal freight. Both projects signal a shift from new-line expansion to fixing what already exists.
Key Takeaways
The Union government sanctioned ₹895.30 crore in railway projects on 2 May 2025 . ₹671.72 crore approved for power supply overhaul of Kolkata Metro's North–South Corridor , including 7 new traction substations .
Upgrade will cut train headway from 5 minutes to 2.5 minutes , doubling service frequency. ₹223.58 crore sanctioned to reconstruct Bridge No.
520 over the Damodar river in Adra division , parts of which date to 1903 .
The bridge serves a critical coal freight corridor between Asansol and Tatanagar .
The Union government on 2 May 2025 sanctioned infrastructure and capacity augmentation projects worth ₹895.30 crore to strengthen metro rail systems and enhance railway bridge safety, the Ministry of Railways announced. The outlay covers two distinct projects — one targeting the Kolkata Metro's North–South Corridor and another addressing an ageing bridge in South Eastern Railway's Adra division.
Kolkata Metro Power Upgrade
The larger of the two approvals, worth ₹671.72 crore, is directed at overhauling the power supply system of the North–South Corridor of Kolkata Metro Railway. The works include the provision of seven new traction substations at a cost of ₹291.06 crore, along with augmentation and upgradation of auxiliary and traction substations between Esplanade and Kavi Subhash.
The project also involves upgrading the power system from 11 kV to 33 kV in certain elevated sections of the corridor. Built in the 1980s, the Kolkata Metro was originally designed to support train operations at intervals of approximately five minutes.
Point of View
Addressing infrastructure that is decades overdue for an upgrade. The Kolkata Metro's 1980s power grid has been a quiet bottleneck on one of India's busiest urban rail corridors, while a freight bridge partly built in 1903 carrying coal for the steel belt is a safety risk hiding in plain sight. The real question is execution speed: India's railway modernisation record is littered with sanctioned projects that sit in limbo for years. Whether these two move faster will test whether the Centre's infrastructure push is rhetoric or reality.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the railway projects sanctioned by the government worth ₹895 crore?
The Union government approved two projects on 2 May 2025: a ₹671.72 crore power supply overhaul for Kolkata Metro's North–South Corridor, and a ₹223.58 crore bridge reconstruction project in South Eastern Railway's Adra division. Together they total ₹895.30 crore.
How will the Kolkata Metro upgrade improve services?
The upgrade will reduce train headway from approximately 5 minutes to 2.5 minutes by installing seven new traction substations and upgrading the power system from 11 kV to 33 kV. This will significantly increase passenger capacity and service frequency on the North–South Corridor.
Why is the Damodar bridge being reconstructed?
The existing Damodar bridge in the Adra division was constructed in 1903 and 1965 for the down and up lines respectively, and has aged significantly. Its foundation and substructure require reconstruction to ensure safety on this high-density coal freight route connecting Asansol and Tatanagar.
Which region does the Damodar bridge freight corridor serve?
The corridor connects Asansol and Tatanagar and is a key coal route supporting industrial activity in the Durgapur–Asansol belt, a region central to India's steel and coal economy.
Are these projects part of a larger railway modernisation plan?
Yes, the Ministry of Railways stated that both projects are part of the government's broader push towards modernisation, improved safety, and capacity expansion to meet growing transport demand, consistent with record capital expenditure allocations to railways in recent Union Budgets.
