Kolkata's ambitious metro expansion has hit a significant roadblock, with the Orange Line's completion now pushed back by a full year. Metro Railway General Manager Subhransu Sekhar Mishra announced at a post-budget media conference on Monday that the New Garia-Airport corridor is now expected to be operational by mid-2028, a delay from the original 2027 deadline.
Chingrighata Crossing: The Critical Bottleneck
The primary cause for this setback centers on the Chingrighata crossing, where crucial viaduct bridging work remains stalled. "Hopefully, the Orange Line will be completed in mid-2028. That's if the traffic blocks are granted immediately," GM Mishra stated, highlighting the conditional nature of this new timeline.
Court Directives and State Inaction
The Calcutta High Court had previously issued clear directives on December 23, 2025, ordering the state government to ensure completion of the metro viaduct work at Chingrighata by February 15, 2026. The court mandated that dates for the necessary traffic diversion should be finalized by January 6. However, Mishra revealed, "We did not hear anything from the state regarding traffic block dates."
According to the court order, a traffic block spanning six nights over two consecutive weekends should have been implemented immediately. This blockage is essential for Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) to launch two critical concrete segments, or girders, between three piers above the busy Bypass intersection. Only then can they proceed to bridge the final 366-meter viaduct gap, connecting the Orange Line with the crucial Sector V area.
Broader Implications and Official Frustration
RVNL had initially targeted commissioning the Metropolitan-Sector V section of the Orange Line by June 2025, a deadline now rendered obsolete. Echoing the frustration, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed the issue in a virtual press conference, stating, "Despite the HC order, the Bengal government is not granting permission for metro work at Chingrighata. A bypass road was built by RVNL for traffic diversion, but the project is stuck here for one-and-a-half years."
Purple Line Hurdles and Funding Assurance
The challenges extend beyond the Orange Line. GM Mishra also highlighted obstacles facing the Purple Line's Joka-Esplanade corridor, specifically at BC Roy Market. "The shifting of the bazaar became an issue. We want some help from the state so that the terminal Esplanade station can be built at the designated spot," he explained.
Despite these permission-based delays, Mishra assured that financial constraints are not the problem. "The Purple and the Orange lines received Rs 1,620 crore. The Yellow Line's share from a corpus of Rs 2,800 crore is yet to be bifurcated. The Green Line got Rs 529 crore for winding up work. There is no dearth of funds for metro work," he emphasized.
The GM concluded with a vision for Kolkata's metro network, contingent on state cooperation: "We just need permission from the state, and Kolkata Metro will span 130 km in the next few years." This statement underscores that while funding is secured, administrative approvals remain the critical barrier to realizing the city's expanded metro rail dream.
