Kolkata Metro project delayed due to non-cooperation from state government: RVNL CMD Pradeep Gaur

He, however said that the project which was started way back in 2010 and was to be completed in 4 to 5 years from then would see the completion in two to three years while the first of its five routes between Navapada and Dakshineshwar (around 5 km) would be started in a year.

Talking to media here on the occasion of the announcement of IPO of the RVNL, Gaur said that earlier the entire 64 km on the five routes was to be on elevated corridor but now around 5 km of it in congested localities were being re-worked as underground line.

He said that a metro project in any big city could not be completed without the proper support from the state government and municipal body.

'It was a must in things like shifting of existing utilities etc. But unfortunately we had not got the desired co-operation despite several reminders to the state government in the past. So the project has been delayed and naturally it has caused a cost overrun,' he said.

Gaur however claimed that now many of the issues have been resolved and the project was going on smoothly.

To a query he said that his company which gets work from the ministry of railway and then get it done through other companies was an asset light company.

'Currently we have orders of Rs 77,000 crores in our order book.There are two kinds of works in it some in hilly areas which would take 5 to 7 years for completion. The remaining work of Rs 40,000 was likely to be completed in 2 to 3 years including the Kolkata Metro,' he said.

The new metro infrastructure creation work in Kolkata (apart from the existing older one) was earlier given to Railway but was later handed over to RVNL.