From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 08:01 PM IST

The residents of Kolkata are upbeat following the central government's approval Thursday for the city Metro's east-west corridor project, a part of which will run under the river Ganges.

The 13.77 km east-west corridor will be built at a cost of Rs.46.76 billion and a part of it will run below the Ganges.

Subrata Mukherjee, a Congress lawmaker and former city mayor, told IANS: 'We are happy that Government of India is doing so much for Kolkata.'

This extension will help the people staying in Howrah and Salt Lake.

Pradip Kar, a resident of Salt Lake said: 'This is a very good news for us. I have relatives at Howrah. Now I can travel without much trouble and can reach there in much less time.'

C.K. Dhanuka, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry's (Ficci) eastern regional council chairman, said: 'Definitely it is a good thing to happen. It will redefine the boundaries of Kolkata.'

He said this will help reduce the burgeoning traffic congestion.

The project will be completed in six-and-a-half years by a joint venture company, which will be formed by the central government and the West Bengal government.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)