Kolkata Metro Orange Line: The Kolkata Metro’s ambitious Orange Line project—seen as one of the city’s most crucial transport lifelines—is facing yet another hurdle at Chingrighata, where congestion and safety concerns have forced planners to rethink their strategy.
To prevent further delays, Metro authorities are now considering a temporary bypass of the Gour Kishore Ghosh Metro station. Under the plan, trains would run along the route but would not halt at the station until a pedestrian underpass is completed. This compromise is designed to keep construction moving, reduce public inconvenience, and avoid the worsening of traffic congestion at one of Kolkata’s busiest intersections.
Why the Station May Remain Closed Initially
The decision is not about cost-cutting but about managing safety and traffic chaos. Chingrighata is already a heavily choked zone where vehicles, pedestrians, and buses intersect daily. According to traffic police, if the station is opened without an underpass, pedestrian movement across the stretch will bring traffic to a standstill, causing serious safety risks.
Metro authorities had initially asked for a 21-day road closure to install viaduct girders at the junction. But this was opposed by the police. Instead, they agreed on a nine-hour nightly closure to carry out the work. This solution avoided a complete shutdown while ensuring construction progress.
Until the underpass project is implemented, passengers may see Orange Line trains pass through Gour Kishore Ghosh station without stopping.
Current Progress on the Orange Line
So far, only the Ruby–Beleghata 4.4 km stretch of the Orange Line has been opened to the public. This was inaugurated in June 2025 and is part of the larger Ruby–Sector V corridor (8 km).
While the section is operational, ridership remains low—around 2,500 passengers daily. The reason is clear: the full potential of the line will only be realized once it connects to Sector V, the city’s IT hub and workplace for lakhs of professionals.
The completion of this missing link is now directly tied to solving the Chingrighata bottleneck.
Kolkata Metro Orange Line: Citizen Role and Legal Push
Interestingly, it was not just government agencies but also citizen intervention that helped break the deadlock. Environmental activist Upamanyu Bhattacharya suggested a practical solution:
- Allow trains to operate along the line
- Skip Gour Kishore Ghosh station until the underpass is built
- Share the financial burden between the state government and central agencies
This petition played a key role in ensuring the project didn’t stall indefinitely.
For context: the underpass project has been stuck for nearly three years due to funding and design approval delays. Metro Railway had requested ₹20 crore from the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) as part of the construction budget, but progress has been slow.
📖 More on how civic activism influences transport projects: Citizen Participation in Urban Infrastructure
The Bigger Picture: A Growing Metro Network
Kolkata Metro now spans 74 km, making it one of India’s fastest-expanding urban transit systems. With multiple new lines launched recently—including the East-West Metro under the Hooghly and the Yellow Line airport extension—the city is witnessing a transport revolution.
The Orange Line is a key missing piece. Once complete, it will connect the southern parts of Kolkata with the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V, drastically reducing travel time for office-goers.
Even more significantly, once the Chingrighata stretch is completed, it will help form the first-ever metro ring in Kolkata, linking various lines into a circular network.
📖 Learn about the East-West Metro project: Kolkata East-West Metro Overview
Engineering Feat: The Box-Pushing Method
Beyond Chingrighata, another technical innovation is reshaping the Orange Line—the box-pushing tunneling method. Engineers are pushing massive concrete boxes underground using hydraulic jacks, allowing road traffic above to continue uninterrupted.
This method is being used on the stretch extending towards Dum Dum and the Airport, where metro lines will run beneath existing urban infrastructure.
📖 A global example of this method: Tunnel Boring and Box-Pushing Techniques
Why the Underpass is Crucial
Urban planners argue that skipping the Gour Kishore Ghosh station temporarily is a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain. But the underpass is non-negotiable.
Without it:
- Pedestrians will crowd the main road dangerously.
- Traffic police will be forced into impossible management situations.
- Accidents and bottlenecks will rise.
With it:
- Commuters can move safely under the busy junction.
- Vehicles will flow more smoothly across Chingrighata.
- The station can operate at full capacity.
Looking Ahead: Timeline and Hopes
The Orange Line still requires:
- Launch of viaduct girders at Chingrighata
- Completion of the pedestrian underpass
- Operational clearance from traffic police
- Extension up to Sector V and eventually to the Airport
If these steps are executed smoothly, Kolkata could soon witness the full operation of its first metro ring, transforming connectivity across the city.
Conclusion
The Orange Line story is about more than just a metro track—it reflects the complex dance between engineering, civic planning, politics, and citizen activism in India’s growing cities.
While delays and temporary compromises like skipping a station may frustrate passengers today, the long-term benefits of a fully connected and safe Orange Line are immense.
For a city where traffic snarls and unpredictable commutes are a daily headache, the completion of this metro line could redefine urban mobility.
📖 Related reading on metro projects in India:
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