KOLKATA, 14 SEPT: The state government today held the railways responsible for the delay in commencing work for the underground portion of the East-West Metro. After a review meeting of the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), convened by the chief minister today, the state transport minister, Mr Ranjit Kundu, said the work for the elevated portion of the East-West Metro is going on well but work for the underground portion has been hit due to the non-cooperation of the railways. Mr Kundu said that of the entire 14.58-km stretch of the East-West Metro, a stretch of 8.74 km is underground and the remaining 5.74-km is elevated. The work for the underground portion could not be commenced as the railways has not handed over the site in Howrah and Sealdah to set up stations, though the state government has already given the first installment of the money demanded by the railways to replace the service lines.