Work on the long-delayed Chingrighata section of Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line is set to begin from May 15 along the busy Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, raising hopes for faster progress on one of the city’s key Metro corridors.
According to a senior Metro official, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the executing agency for the project, will begin segment launching work over piers P-317, P-318 and P-319 at Chingrighata, per a report by news agency PTI. The work is part of the elevated viaduct construction connecting Kavi Subhas to the airport.
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Traffic curbs and long-pending Metro link
To carry out the construction, authorities will enforce two separate 60-hour traffic restrictions across consecutive weekends this month.
The first closure will remain in effect from 8 pm on May 15 to 8 am on May 18 for launching segments between piers P-317 and P-318 across the western flank of the EM Bypass, per PTI.
Another 60-hour closure will be enforced from 8 pm on May 22 to 8 am on May 25 for work between P-318 and P-319 on the eastern flank.
Traffic diversions will be implemented as per Kolkata Traffic Police notifications, and commuters have been advised to plan routes carefully to avoid congestion around Chingrighata during the construction period, per the PTI report.
Crucial for operational connectivity
The Chingrighata stretch is considered one of the biggest bottlenecks in the New Garia-Airport Orange Line corridor. Officials said the missing 366-metre link is crucial for improving operational connectivity between New Garia, Sector V, Salt Lake and the airport.
At present, Metro services are operational between Shahid Khudiram and Beleghata, with Beleghata station located nearly 2 km away from the Chingrighata crossing.
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Officials believe work on the corridor may now move faster following the formation of the new BJP government in West Bengal after the assembly elections. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier said coordination issues with the previous state government had slowed Metro expansion projects in Kolkata.
“After the elections, Kolkata Police agreed to regulate traffic during the designated weekends. Work at Chingrighata will now begin from May 15,” the official was quoted as saying by PTI.
