Kolkata Metro Orange Line Stalemate: Police Initiate Trial Traffic Diversions at Chingrighata Crossing
In a significant development for Kolkata's infrastructure, the long-stalled construction of the Metro Orange Line at Chingrighata may soon resume as authorities implement strategic traffic management measures. According to reliable sources, the Beleghata Traffic Police have commenced a trial run for traffic diversion of vehicles moving towards Ultadanga from EM Bypass, specifically designed to create space for constructing three crucial metro piers at the Chingrighata crossing.
Strategic Traffic Diversion Plan
The trial diversion, currently active during peak hours twice daily from 8 am to 11:30 am and 5 pm to 8:30 pm, represents a carefully calibrated approach to minimize disruption while enabling essential construction work. Although the actual construction is planned between midnight and 5 am to reduce traffic impact, authorities have strategically scheduled the trial during peak hours to help traffic police personnel familiarize themselves with the new arrangements and respond effectively to real-time challenges.
The diversion strategy involves a phased implementation approach, beginning with heavy vehicles including buses, minibuses, and dumpsters being redirected along the newly designated route. If this initial trial proves successful, authorities plan to implement the diversion while keeping the old route partially operational, thereby reducing inconvenience for daily commuters during the Metro construction phase.
Detailed Traffic Management Framework
According to senior police officials, the traffic management plan involves a sophisticated rerouting system where heavy vehicles will utilize a newly constructed road to bypass a specific stretch of EM Bypass before rejoining the main carriageway before Canal South Road. The road has been strategically divided into two sections before the Chingrighata flyover, with buses and freight vehicles being experimentally diverted to the new road while motorcycles, taxis, and smaller cars continue using the bypass as usual.
The Chingrighata flyover remains accessible for commuters traveling to Sector 5, New Town, or Salt Lake, ensuring connectivity to key areas is maintained throughout the trial period. Once the trial run demonstrates effectiveness, police authorities will formally present the findings to the court, with subsequent decisions regarding work commencement timing and procedures to be determined through judicial mediation.
Background: The Orange Line Construction Impasse
The current trial diversions address a critical bottleneck that has stalled the Orange Line project for over a year. The construction of a vital 'viaduct' on a 366-meter section of the 30-kilometer Orange Line route (connecting Kabi Subhash to Airport via Rajarhat) near Chingrighata has remained incomplete despite Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) having constructed four pillars numbered 317, 318, 319, and 320.
The installation of the viaduct structure has been repeatedly delayed due to anticipated traffic chaos, forcing authorities to terminate services at Beleghata station, which remains approximately 10 kilometers short of the airport. RVNL, as the implementing agency for the Orange Line, has been seeking police permission since November for night traffic blocks around Chingrighata on EM Bypass to launch concrete blocks between piers 317, 318, and 319, thereby bridging the crucial 366-meter gap.
Resolution of this viaduct installation challenge is essential for extending Metro services directly to the airport, a key objective of the Orange Line project. The Calcutta High Court's Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Pal and Justice Parthasarathy Sen, has been actively monitoring the traffic congestion issues caused by proposed road blocks and has established February 15, 2026, as the deadline for completing the stalled Chingrighata stretch of the Orange Line Metro project.
This trial traffic diversion initiative represents a collaborative effort between traffic authorities, construction agencies, and judicial oversight to overcome longstanding infrastructure challenges while balancing the daily mobility needs of Kolkata's commuters.
