Chingrighata Metro stucks again, RVNL again in Calcutta HC to settle dispute

The much-awaited Chingrighata metro stretch is still gathering dust because the busy EM Bypass refuses to close even for a single weekend, pushing Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) approaching back to the Calcutta High Court. Everyone thought the problem was solved after a joint meeting where the state, police, and metro officials agreed to block the road on Saturdays and Sundays in November so piling work could finally start. But when the first weekend arrived, nothing happened—traffic kept roaring as usual.

RVNL lawyers told the court that despite clear minutes from the meeting, the administration is citing the upcoming India-England Test match at Eden Gardens and a city marathon as reasons to keep the road open, leaving cranes idle and commuters fuming.Inside the courtroom, the state argued that shutting a major artery like EM Bypass would create chaos with thousands of cricket fans and marathon runners flooding the city. RVNL shot back that the same excuse has been used for months and the project is already years behind schedule. The Acting Chief Justice's division bench listened patiently, then asked RVNL to file a proper written application spelling out exactly which dates were promised and how the delay is hurting the public who need the metro more than a few hours of road closure.

For daily travellers stuck in the endless Chingrighata bottleneck crossing, the news feels like a heartbreak. Piling machines stand covered in tarpaulin, workers sit idle, and the dream of a smooth ride to Saltlake along Kolkata Metro's Orange line keeps slipping away. The court has promised a quick hearing, but until then the cranes wait, the traffic snarls continue, and Kolkata wonders when its metro will finally crawl past yet another roadblock.