Kolkata Metro's East-West Corridor: Delays, Testing, and Future Prospects

Kolkata Metro has announced a suspension of services on the Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch for Automatic Train Operation testing. Despite earlier disruptions, normal services will continue between Dakshineswar and Shahid Khudiram. Clearance has been given for the Sealdah-Esplanade section, and a final decision on full operations depends on the PMO.

The Kolkata Metro has revealed a temporary suspension of services on the Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch of the East-West corridor, scheduled for August 3, to facilitate Automatic Train Operation (ATO) testing.

Despite these interruptions, regular train services will continue between the Dakshineswar and Shahid Khudiram stations on the North-South corridor, affirmed a Metro spokesperson.

The Sealdah-Esplanade section recently received clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, overcoming previous delays due to subsidence from tunnel-related issues. While full service was speculated to start by July, the final decision awaits approval from the Prime Minister's Office.

(With inputs from agencies.)