In a significant relief for daily commuters, a crucial 180-meter stretch of Biswa Bangla Sarani, the main thoroughfare in New Town, Kolkata, has finally been cleared of barricades after three long years. The reopening follows the completion of a major construction milestone for the upcoming Orange Line metro corridor.
Road Reopens After Prolonged Barricading
The Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the implementing agency for the project, has successfully cast most of the slab for the concourse level of the Chinar Park metro station. This crucial development has allowed vehicles to resume smooth, two-way movement on this vital road without any hindrances or obstructions. The barricades, which had become a permanent fixture for motorists, have now been completely removed.
With the concourse level work largely done, the focus now shifts upward. Work to construct the platform level above the concourse is set to commence shortly. This progress at Chinar Park station marks a positive step for the Orange Line, a corridor that has faced its share of challenges.
Project Delays and Lingering Hurdles
Despite this achievement, the broader Orange Line project continues to grapple with delays. The line has missed deadlines for the construction of its last 3.5-kilometer segment, stretching from City Centre II in New Town to the Airport. A significant hurdle remains at the Chingrighata crossing, where the construction of the final 366 meters of viaduct is pending.
The contract for building this Rs 533 crore segment, which includes the Chinar Park and VIP Road stations along with 900 meters of underground tunneling to the airport, was awarded to Afcons Infrastructure. As per the original agreement, Afcons was supposed to complete this work by January 31, 2024. However, the project is already running a year behind schedule, with only parts of the two station structures completed so far.
Construction Challenges: Traffic and Encroachments
The construction of the Chinar Park station presented unique difficulties for the agencies involved. Due to the extremely heavy traffic load in the area, police authorities were hesitant to hand over the entire site at once. Consequently, the work on this key New Town artery had to be executed in multiple phases, which prolonged both the station's construction timeline and the duration of road barricading.
Adding to the complexity was a problem of encroachment. A report from September 14, 2024, highlighted how pavement space, illegally occupied by at least four restaurants for their outdoor seating, forced RVNL to alter the design and construction scheme of the station. This encroachment eliminated potential alternate space for traffic movement during construction, further complicating the process.
While the freed-up 180 meters of Biswa Bangla Sarani brings immediate respite to Kolkata's commuters, the journey to complete the Orange Line's connection from New Garia to the Airport, spanning a total of 32 kilometers, still has some distance to cover.
