Why Kolkata's Orange Metro Line Is Stuck: A Simple Explanation

Why Kolkata's Orange Metro Line Is Stuck: A Simple Explanation

What's the Problem?

People in Kolkata are frustrated because the Orange Line of the Kolkata Metro has been delayed for years. This metro line is supposed to connect New Garia (Kavi Subhash) in south Kolkata to Salt Lake Sector V and eventually to the airport. It would make life much easier for lakhs of daily commuters who currently spend 2+ hours traveling by road. The metro would cut that time to just 45 minutes.

The Orange Line Project

The Orange Line (Line 6) is a 29.87 km elevated metro line that was approved back in 2010. It costs about ₹3,951 crore and is being built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which works under India's central government Railway Ministry. The line is designed to serve about 5 lakh passengers every day once it's complete.

As of November 2025, only a 9.9 km stretch from Kavi Subhash to Beleghata is running (opened in August 2025), with trains operating on weekdays from 8:10 AM to 8:20 PM every 25 minutes. The full line was supposed to be ready by 2025, but now it's delayed until mid-2026.

What's Causing the Delay?

The main problem is a 366-meter gap at Chingrihata along the Eastern Metropolitan (EM) Bypass. Workers need to place steel girders (bridge structures) over this busy road crossing to connect the Beleghata-Chingrihata section to the already-built 3 km section going to Salt Lake Sector V (where stations like Metropolitan, Gour Kishore Ghosh, and Nicco Park are ready and waiting). Without completing this connection, the line to Salt Lake and the airport remains stuck.

Why Can't They Just Finish It?

Here's where it gets frustrating. Metro officials say this work would only take 6 night shifts (not even full days—just late-night hours when traffic is low, like 10 PM to 4 AM). The equipment is ready. The workers are ready. But they need permission to temporarily close the road at night to safely place the heavy bridge pieces.

The problem? Kolkata Traffic Police (controlled by the West Bengal state government) keeps refusing permission. They say closing the EM Bypass—even at night—would cause too much traffic disruption. They've given various reasons over time: traffic congestion concerns, a cricket match at Eden Gardens, and other "unexplained reasons."

A Pattern of Delays

This isn't the only holdup. There have been several state-level delays:

1. Municipal Approvals: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) took 3 years to approve designs for an underpass and diversion road at Chingrihata

2. Traffic Permissions: Even though courts ordered the state to allow night work, the blocks still didn't happen in November 2025

3. Coordination Problems: Meetings between different agencies (metro, police, municipal corporation) don't lead to decisions

These same kinds of delays have affected other metro lines in Kolkata too—the Green Line extension, Pink Line, and Yellow Line have all faced similar problems with state-level approvals.

Is This Intentional?

Many people, including BJP politicians and frustrated commuters on social media, believe the West Bengal government (led by Mamata Banerjee's TMC party) is intentionally delaying the project. They think it's because the central government (led by PM Modi) is funding and building the metro, and the state doesn't want the central government to get credit for completing it before elections.

A court case (PIL) was filed about this, and hearings are ongoing as of November 2025. The state government hasn't clearly explained why they won't allow the night work, and the minister responsible has been "unavailable" for comment.

Who's to Blame?

Based on the facts:

Primary responsibility: West Bengal State Government. They control traffic permissions and municipal approvals. The central government has funded and built 90%+ of the line. The state just needs to allow 6 nights of work to finish this crucial connection.

Not to blame: Central Government/Metro Authorities/RVNL. They've done their part—built the infrastructure, minimized disruption plans, and even gone to court to get permission.

The Cost of Delay

This delay hurts ordinary people:

- Workers waste 2+ hours commuting instead of 45 minutes

- Families pay ₹500+ for cabs/Ubers stuck in traffic instead of ₹20-40 metro fares

- Air pollution continues from 50,000+ daily cars on overcrowded roads

- IT workers can't easily reach Salt Lake Sector V offices

Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain

Yes, closing the EM Bypass for 6 nights (late at night when traffic is minimal) might inconvenience some people. But the long-term benefits are huge:

- Fast, affordable transport for lakhs of people

- Reduced traffic congestion (10-15% fewer vehicles on EM Bypass)

- Economic growth for South Kolkata and Salt Lake

- Better air quality

Other cities like Delhi faced temporary disruptions when building their metro, and now millions benefit every day.

What Can People Do?

Frustrated commuters can:

- Speak up on social media (tag @MamataOfficial, @KolkataPolice)

- Support the ongoing court case

- Demand accountability from elected representatives

The next court hearing could force the state to finally allow the work. Kolkata deserves better—this delay needs to end.