Kolkata Metro work halted again; Khidirpur Station dropped amid state land dispute

Kolkata's Metro construction has encountered another significant hurdle, with work on the proposed Khidirpur station now effectively halted due to an unresolved land dispute with the state government. Metro authorities have confirmed that, for now, no station will be built at Khidirpur, leading to a direct connection between Majerhat and Victoria stations, with only an emergency exit shaft in between. This decision comes after the state government informed Metro officials in a May meeting at Nabanna that the necessary land at the Alipur Bodyguard Line could not be provided.

The complexities surrounding the Khidirpur station stem from the state's sudden refusal to hand over the required 837 square meters of land. The reason cited by Nabanna is that Khidirpur is a densely populated area, encompassing various institutions, schools, and churches, making land acquisition difficult. This unexpected obstacle has thrown the Metro project into uncertainty, particularly the crucial stretch from Khidirpur to Victoria Station and further to Esplanade, where work had already been stalled due to previous land issues.

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) had even been brought from Tamil Nadu for the first phase of track laying from Khidirpur to Victoria, and then from Victoria to Park Street. However, with the state's latest stance, Metro authorities have informed the construction company that the Khidirpur segment will have to be skipped. While the Joka to Majerhat section of the Metro is already operational, the remaining underground work faces significant design and operational challenges without the planned Khidirpur station.

The ongoing land imbroglio has ignited a political debate in Bengal. BJP leader Agnimitra Pal expressed strong disapproval, stating, "It is a project worth several thousand crores of rupees... The Chief Minister in Khidirpur said that he cannot provide land, so this project has been hindered!" In response, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh acknowledged the complexities of laying lines through populated areas, citing issues with land ownership, but emphasized the need to overcome such problems to move forward with development.