Metro on disaster route

While passing by the Metro Rail construction site near Garia, I was aghast to see massive concrete pillars being constructed virtually in the middle of the Tolly?s Nullah, which inevitably will lead to an ecological disaster. The Tolly?s Nullah beyond Garia has been completely silted up. It is the basic of bridge engineering that scouring and silting of bed in any waterway leads to obstruction.

S. Sarkar, Lake Road.

Extension of Metro Railway from Tollygunge to Garia was sanctioned during 1999-2000. To minimise the obstruction, we have adopted single circular column and which are on pile foundation with the pile cap at a depth of 5-6 m below the existing bed level as required by the irrigation department. Besides, we have paid Rs 7.14 crore to the irrigation department for deepening and widening the canal.

S.C. Banerjee, Sr PRO, Metro Railway.