Calcutta HC sets 15 February deadline for construction of metro pillars at Chingrighata crossing

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday stepped in to resolve the long-standing deadlock over the New Garia-Airport Metro expansion at the busy Chingrighata intersection. A division bench, headed by the Acting Chief Justice, issued a stern directive to complete the construction of the remaining metro pillars by February 15, 2026. The project had been stalled for months over a 366-meter gap in the viaduct because of the state's reluctance to permit essential traffic blocks at this critical E.M. Bypass junction.

During the hearing, the court brushed aside the state government's argument that traffic could only be diverted in late February due to the festive season and Ganga Sagar Mela. The bench observed that in a country like India, festivities are constant, but public utility projects cannot remain stuck indefinitely. Consequently, the state has been ordered to facilitate traffic control for three nights (from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM) to allow the implementing agency, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), to execute the final stages of the pillar work.

The High Court has instructed RVNL and state authorities to coordinate the exact schedule for these three nights of traffic diversion. The state must finalize and communicate these dates to RVNL by January 6, 2026. This decision follows multiple rounds of failed stakeholder meetings where the police had previously refused to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), citing congestion concerns. The court emphasized that the project is in the larger interest of the public and must be fast-tracked to connect the Orange Line to the airport.

With the deadline now set, the completion of "Pillar 318" and the surrounding viaduct is expected to finally bridge the gap between Beleghata and Gour Kishore Ghosh stations. This extension is crucial for commuters traveling from South Kolkata and the city's outskirts to the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V and the airport. All eyes are now on January 6, when the official traffic block schedule will determine the final sprint for this crucial infrastructure milestone.