Old rakes of Metro to get a makeover

Kolkata: Kolkata Metro Rail is seen during a trial run between the extended phase from Tollygunge to New Garia station in the southern part of the city on Thursday. The extended 8.5 km stretch of Metro Rail will be opened to public on August 23. Initially the train will go till Birji, 2.5 km short of the New Garia Station. The extension project had started in 1999 and its estimated cost was Rs 1,032 crore, with the state government undertaking 33 per cent of the cost. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury. August 06, 2009.

In an attempt to provide better facilities to commuters of Kolkata Metro Railway, half of the old rakes will be refurbished with additional features providing comfort to passengers and adding to the safety features.

The first such rehabilitated rake will be inaugurated by Minister of Railway Suresh Prabhu on Thursday. There are plans to augment seven such old rakes with additional features and facilities, Kolkata Metro authorities said.

A. K. Kundu, Chief Electrical Engineer, (Rolling Stock) Kolkata Metro Railway told The Hindu that the interior of the old rakes will be done by ionised aluminium and the coaches will LED indication board. The seats of the old metro rakes will also get a makeover.

“In due course of time seven old rakes will be rehabilitated in order to provide better amenities and services to our esteemed metro users,” Protyush Kumar Ghosg, Deputy General Manager, Kolkata Metro Railway said.

At present Kolkata Metro Railway has 13 air-conditioned and 14 non Air conditioned rakes. On a week day Kolkata Metro ferries about 5.5 lakh passengers.