Final inspection of Esplanade–Sealdah metro stretch likely before Poila Baisakh

After years of anticipation, the final 2.6-kilometre Esplanade–Sealdah stretch of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, also known as the Green Line, is inching towards completion, with an official inspection likely to be held before Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year. If the inspection receives a green signal, operational clearance may follow, finally allowing full-scale service on the East-West Metro route.

The stretch has been under scrutiny, particularly over the past six months, with Metro Railway General Manager P. Uday Kumar Reddy monitoring progress closely. This section has faced several roadblocks over the years—most notably incidents of subsidence in 2019 and again in 2022.

The most recent challenge came on September 5, 2024, when water leaked from underground in Bowbazar’s Durga Pituri Lane, sparking fears of a repeat of past cave-ins and forcing the evacuation of 50 residents. Such incidents had kept the timeline for completion uncertain, despite other parts of the East-West Metro already being operational.

However, a breakthrough came in December 2024, when the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) and its construction partner ITD Cementation completed track-laying work for the unfinished stretch. The milestone marked a turning point for the ₹10,000 crore mega project, which also includes India’s first under-river Metro tunnel, connecting Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake.

With track installation done, the only hurdle left is the final safety and operational inspection. If cleared, it would allow commuters seamless travel from Sealdah to Howrah Maidan, making the Green Line a fully functional rapid transit link across Kolkata.