With the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the principal funding partner of the East-West Metro project, giving approval for route realignment for the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) and now the project has finally been placed on fast track. This also resolves the uncertainty over funding that had slipped into a limbo after the route revision delayed the project by five years and escalated the cost to twice the original estimate. The green signal from JICA also paves the way for crucial documentation required for insuring the construction activity between BBD Bag and Sealdah along the realigned route via Esplanade. The JICA approval was finally obtained by KMRC following a prod by Calcutta high court after project contractor Afcons filed a petition on the insurance issue but now all the roadblocks have been removed facilitating fast tracking the mega project.
