The much-anticipated extension of Kolkata's Metro Railway network took a significant step forward on Friday as construction work for the underground line connecting the airport to Birati officially commenced with a traditional puja ceremony.
Project Launch and Key Attendees
The groundbreaking event was held in the presence of Metro Railway General Manager Subhransu Sekhar Mishra and senior officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The work is being carried out on AAI land near the Birati crossing. This initiation follows the necessary clearances from AAI and the awarding of the contract, as reported earlier.
Contract Details and Construction Scope
The substantial civil construction contract, worth Rs 1,330 crore, has been secured by Cemindia Projects Ltd (formerly ITD-ITD Cementation), the company known for building the Green Line. The crew from Cemindia has begun work by constructing the diaphragm wall (D-wall), which outlines the station box area.
To facilitate this, a trench cutter has been deployed. The station box at Birati itself will span an impressive 325 meters. Cemindia faces a strict 910-day deadline to complete a critical package of work, which includes:
- Constructing a 3.5 km metro tunnel between Jai Hind (airport) and Birati stations.
- Building the complete underground station structure at Birati.
- Creating subways for both Birati and Micheal Nagar stations.
Furthermore, the company is responsible for installing all essential systems within Birati station, covering mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) aspects such as firefighting, ventilation, 750 V DC traction, third rail ballastless tracks, and sanitation and drainage systems.
Overcoming Challenges and Future Vision
The Yellow Line's progress received a major boost after a persistent hurdle was resolved. The proposed site for the New Barrackpore station was conflicting with flight paths for landing at Kolkata airport. This issue was settled by shifting the station site closer to the New Barrackpore crossing, a station that may potentially be named Netaji Nagar.
This 6.8 km extension from the airport to Birati is a crucial part of the Yellow Line's broader plan to eventually span approximately 12 km to Barasat. The line's first leg, the 7 km Noapara-airport section, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2025, providing the city with its first direct airport-metro link. However, extending the line beyond the airport had posed a significant challenge for Metro Railway authorities, which is now being actively addressed with this new phase of construction.
The commencement of this work marks a pivotal moment in Kolkata's urban transit development, promising to significantly improve north-eastern connectivity and reduce travel time for thousands of daily commuters upon completion.
