A major construction milestone has been achieved for Kolkata’s Orange Line metro corridor after the crucial viaduct work at Chingrighata Crossing was completed ahead of schedule, paving the way for commercial metro operations by December 2026.
The completion of the long-pending girder launching work at the busy Chingrighata Crossing on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is being viewed as a major breakthrough for the Kolkata Metro Orange Line project connecting New Garia to the airport corridor.
According to Metro Railway officials, the critical construction work was successfully completed during the early hours after intensive execution over two consecutive weekends with support from the West Bengal government and traffic authorities. The project had remained stalled for more than a year due to traffic diversion and permission-related challenges at the heavily congested Chingrighata junction.
The Chingrighata section involved bridging a crucial 366-metre viaduct gap that had become the final major obstacle in extending the Orange Line toward Sector V, one of Kolkata’s largest IT and commercial hubs. Completion of this stretch is expected to significantly improve connectivity between the southern suburbs, EM Bypass corridor, Salt Lake, Sector V, and the airport-bound metro network.
The construction process required complex traffic management arrangements due to the strategic importance of Chingrighata Crossing, which connects Salt Lake, New Town, Sector V, and major sections of Kolkata through the EM Bypass. Temporary diversions and phased traffic blocks were implemented to facilitate the placement of massive concrete girders and viaduct structures.
The issue had earlier drawn judicial attention, with both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court expressing concern over delays affecting the metro project. The courts had emphasised the importance of completing the public infrastructure project without unnecessary obstruction due to its long-term benefit for commuters and urban transport efficiency.
The Orange Line corridor is expected to become a major component of Kolkata’s expanding metro ecosystem by linking multiple transport corridors and improving interchange opportunities with other metro lines. Once fully operational, the project is likely to reduce travel time substantially between residential zones and key employment centres such as Sector V.
Urban transport experts noted that the completion of the Chingrighata section could also support broader transit-oriented development across eastern Kolkata, particularly around metro-linked residential and commercial zones. Improved metro connectivity is expected to positively influence mobility, real estate activity, and economic integration across the metropolitan region.
Authorities are now expected to focus on remaining systems integration, safety checks, signalling installation, and operational testing ahead of the planned commercial launch later this year. The completion of the delayed Chingrighata stretch is widely being seen as one of the most significant milestones in Kolkata Metro’s ongoing network expansion programme.
