Kolkata: Metro and railway officials are compiling a list of projects that can either be fast-tracked or initiated after years of delay, now that the same government will be in power at both the Centre and the state. The lack of cooperation from the outgoing state government has been repeatedly cited by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Parliament as the primary obstacle to faster metro expansion in the city.
Orange Line Breakthrough
The long-standing Chingrighata issue of the Orange Line is finally set to be resolved. The traffic police have agreed to grant the long-pending traffic blocks on May 15. A 366-meter gap in the Orange Line's viaduct at Chingrighata on the Bypass is the critical missing link in the upcoming New Garia-Airport Metro corridor (Orange Line), which currently operates between New Garia and Metropolitan (Beleghata station). Following a Supreme Court order, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the implementing agency, has been seeking traffic blocks from the police to lift concrete segments and bridge the gap since February 2, 2025.
A 500-meter stretch of a two-lane road has been built by RVNL as an alternative for traffic diversion. In December, a Calcutta High Court division bench ordered that work on concrete blocks must be completed by February 15, 2026. The state government had moved the apex court against that order.
Purple Line Progress
Officials are hopeful that the Purple Line, which promises to become a lifeline for residents of Behala, will now move forward. Construction of the Purple Line's Esplanade station has been stalled because traders at BC Roy Market are unwilling to relocate to an alternative site. The state Public Works Department is responsible for the upkeep of the market. The Purple Line currently operates between Joka and Majerhat.
Yellow Line Revival
The Yellow Line, which aims to connect Noapara and Barasat and is currently operational between Noapara and the airport, may also take off now with funding from the state government. Construction is underway up to Michael Nagar, and a proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for an underground extension from Michael Nagar to Barasat. The approval is pending.
Other Stalled Projects
Several projects that were stuck because the incumbent state government refused to loosen its purse strings, pleading lack of funds and adherence to the 50-50 cost-sharing norm, may now be rejuvenated. "The state will be the same as the one at the Centre. Funds will no longer hold back projects," an official stated.
Among the metro lines awaiting progress is the Pink Line (Baranagar-Barrackpore corridor). When operational, it may function as an extension of Line 1, or the Blue Line. Two other lines from the Green Line, or East-West Metro, have been deferred for the same reason: Howrah Maidan-Santragachhi bus terminal and Sector V to Teghoria.
