This project was sanctioned in the budget of 2010–11 by Mamata Banerjee with a project deadline of six years.[6] The execution of this project has been entrusted to RVNL at a cost of Rs 3951.98 crore. It will help to reduce travel time between the southern fringes of Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.[3][6] In October 2011, RVNL awarded Gammon India Limited, the tender for the construction of the metro corridor from VIP Bazar Metro Station to Nikko Park (Nalban metro station), including stations, as part of Package-II of Line 6. Amongst those metro stations, one in Topsia was also sanctioned, i.e., Ritwik Ghatak.[7] In January 2012, the construction of the metro station along with the metro line started. The construction of the station was stopped in 2015 due to land disputes. The construction of the station started again in May 2017[8] and was fully completed in early 2023.[9][4][10] But the metro couldn't be started due to a viaduct gap over Tagore Park culvert.[11][12]
A week later after inauguration and a day after commercial run started on Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section, in March 2024, RVNL announced the completion of that 76 m viaduct gap after construction of a single-span hanging steelbridge over the disputed Tagore Park culvert. This completed the viaduct upto Beliaghata metro station, clearing the way for commercial operations at Ritwik Ghatak.[13] Trial runs have started in the same month. The station is expected to be operational by late 2024.[14][9][15]
Station
Ritwik Ghatak metro Station
Structure
Ritwik Ghatak Metro Station is an elevated metro station and has a total of 3 levels. Station entrances and exits begin or end at the first level or ground level. Second-level or L1 or intermediate level houses station fare control, station agents, metro vending machines, crossovers, etc. The third level or L2 or the final level houses the platforms and rail tracks. The station is 200 meters long and 25 meters wide.[3][4][16][5]
