The Kolkata Metro Orange Line project has gained major momentum after crucial construction activity resumed at the long-delayed Chingrighata crossing on the EM Bypass. According to reports from Zee News, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the implementing agency for the corridor, recently completed Phase I deck-launching work between piers 317 and 318 at Chingrighata. The work involved installation of a 28-metre concrete viaduct section using a 500MT girder launcher under a 60-hour traffic block, with officials confirming the operation was completed ahead of schedule. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that a 62-meter viaduct gap has also been plugged, stating "We have successfully bridged the 62-metre viaduct gap at Chingrighata – a critical link on Kolkata Metro's Orange Line." Metro Railway chief public relations officer S S Kannan confirmed that the work was completed three hours ahead of schedule and traffic on the E M Bypass was restored at 5 am on Monday. The Orange Line project had remained stalled for more than one-and-a-half years at Chingrighata because elevated viaduct construction required prolonged traffic blocks at one of the city's busiest intersections.
The Chingrighata stretch is strategically critical because it connects the southern operational section of the Orange Line with the upcoming Sector V and airport-bound sections. As reported by Zee News, until this gap is completed, Metro services cannot be extended seamlessly toward Salt Lake and New Town. Officials have repeatedly described this portion as the 'key bottleneck' of the entire corridor, with the viaduct construction having remained stalled due to traffic management issues, court proceedings, and lack of permissions for long-duration traffic blocks on the busy EM Bypass crossing. The second phase of deck-launching was completed between piers 318 and 319, with authorities hopeful that the long-stalled missing link will finally be bridged. Metro Railway chief S S Kannan noted that the alignment at Chingrighata required traffic blocks, but this time they got permission and work started immediately. He emphasized that when milestones are disturbed, projects are naturally hampered, but now they are moving forward with the promise to deliver what they have committed.
At present, Orange Line services are operational on the southern section between Kavi Subhash (New Garia) and Beleghata (Metropolitan). According to Zee News, commercial operations on the extended stretch till Beleghata started in 2025, with this operational section already improving connectivity along the EM Bypass corridor and serving major residential and hospital zones in south and east Kolkata. The total planned length of the New Garia–Airport corridor is about 29.87 km, with the line being mostly elevated with a short underground airport section.
Metro authorities are now targeting December 2026 for connecting the Orange Line with the Green Line at Sector V, with Metro Railway chief S S Kannan stating "Beleghata to IT Centre is our optimistic target for December 2026. Once that section opens, Orange Line passengers will be able to interchange with the Green Line at Sector V and travel to Howrah Maidan." For the airport section, Kannan confirmed they are targeting December 2027, with the line offering important interchange opportunities with the Blue Line and Green Line networks. RVNL officials indicate that only a limited portion of the remaining 366-metre viaduct requires intensive traffic blocks, while other construction activity can continue without major road closures. The airport-end section will include an underground portion near the terminal area.
On the Joka-Esplanade Purple Line, work around Park Street has reached an advanced stage, though relocation of B C Roy Market at Esplanade remains a hurdle, with the corridor expected to take another two to two-and-a-half years before services reach Esplanade. On the Airport-Barasat corridor, tunnelling work has crossed the airport station and work between the airport and Michael Nagar is progressing quickly, though land-related issues towards Barasat remain a challenge with the extension expected to take another three years. Kavi Subhash station is expected to reopen before Durga Puja after completion of technical civil engineering work, with the station having been closed purely from the passenger safety point of view. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the TMC kept the project stalled for years by refusing basic traffic diversion permissions, even after the High Court and Supreme Court cleared the project.
