“We have suggested that the frequency of metro trains in the peak hours be increased from the existing seven minutes to five, so that more passengers are accommodated,” said chairman of the committee, Basudeb Achariya.

Achariya was speaking to the media after a review meeting held between the members of the standing committee and the officials of the Eastern, Southeastern and Metro Railways. He added that the committee had also asked the Metro Railway to conduct a survey on the Dum Dum-Dakshineshwar route for a possible extension of metro services on that line.

Metro Railway has been instructed to submit the survey report by February 12, so that it can be brought up for discussion in the upcoming rail budget.

Referring to the extension of the metro track from Tollygunge to Garia, Achariya said a lot of time had already been wasted in completing the 7.5-km stretch. “The original deadline was March 2007. Now, it is being said that the 5-km stretch till Pranabnagar will be complete only by June 2009. We have told the railway board to seriously look into the case against land acquisition pending in the Calcutta High Court and get the necessary clearance as early as possible,” Achariya said.

Regarding the proposed integration of circular rail services near the airport with the metro network, Achariya said though the Union railway minister and the railway board has already sanctioned the proposal, survey for the project had not yet commenced. “We have told Metro officials to start the survey,” he said.

The standing committee also expressed concern over some of the railway infrastructure projects in West Bengal that were far from completion.

These include the construction of a new line between Tarakeshwar and Bishnupur and a new line between Rampurhat and Mandarhi in Jharkhand. Only 35 per cent of the work on these lines has been completed, though funds were sanctioned long ago.