# Ritwik Ghatak metro station

Ritwik Ghatak (formerly known as Topsia), is a station of Orange Line of the Kolkata Metro located in the Topsia area of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving Topsia and Uttar Panchanagram areas. The name of the station has been given on the famous film director, Ritwik Ghatak. The station is elevated above the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.

## Location

This station is located in Topsia across the service road and footpath on the eastern side of Biswa Bangla Sarani at Uttar Panchannagram. The main elevated structure of the station is situated along the service road and footpath adjacent to the New Garia-bound lane of Biswa Bangla Sarani near Ambedkar Bridge. It is geographically located at 22°31′58″N 88°23′45″E﻿ / ﻿22.5328605°N 88.3957647°E﻿ / 22.5328605; 88.3957647. The previous station of the station is VIP Bazar metro station at a distance of 0.9 km (0.56 mi) and the next station is Barun Sengupta metro station at a distance of 1.4 km (0.87 mi).

## History

This project was sanctioned in the budget of 2010–11 by Mamata Banerjee with a project deadline of six years. 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. 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 Orange Line. Amongst those metro stations, one in Topsia was also sanctioned, i.e., Ritwik Ghatak. 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 and was fully completed in early 2023. But the metro couldn't be started due to a viaduct gap over Tagore Park culvert.
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 steel bridge over the disputed Tagore Park culvert. This completed the viaduct upto Beliaghata metro station, clearing the way for commercial operations at Ritwik Ghatak. Trial runs have started in the same month. The station is expected to be operational by late 2024.

## 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.
The station has four entrances and exits. The station is being built with state-of-the-art technology. In addition to staircases, it will be equipped with lifts and escalators. The station also has drinking water and toilet facilities.

### Layout

Ritwik Ghatak track layout :
Legend :
Station with two tracks and two side platforms :
Layout :
| G | Street Level | Exit/Entrance |
| L1 | Mezzanine | Fare control, station agent, Metro Card vending machines, crossover |
| L2 | Side platform doors will open on the left | Side platform doors will open on the left |
| L2 | Southbound | Towards →Kavi Subhash→ next station is VIP Bazar→ |
| L2 | Northbound | →Towards ←Jai Hind← next station is Barun Sengupta← |
| Side platform doors will open on the left ||
| L2 | | |

## Power and signal systems

Like other stations and lines of Kolkata Metro, this station has 750 volt DC powered third rail. The electricity system will be used to operate the train.
Train movement at this station will be managed by communication based train control signaling system. With this signal system, trains can be operated at intervals of 90 seconds.

## Services

Services have not started from this station. Currently the station is under construction and is set to be opened in 2024.

## Connections
### Bus

Bus Numbers - AS3, AC47, EB3, 24A/1.