Kolkata Metros Orange Line Phase Three Track Laying Completed

Kolkata, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : Kolkata's Metro Railway has achieved a significant milestone in infrastructure development by completing the track laying for the third phase of the 32-kilometer-long Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind Airport Metro Corridor, also known as the Orange Line. The recent inspection of the Belghoria-IT Center section was conducted using a push trolley, marking a crucial step forward.This metro line will connect the southern parts of Kolkata to the airport, passing through the IT hub in New Town, Salt Lake. The completion of this inspection indicates that the viaduct and ballasted track work in this section have been finalized. With this progress, electrical work can now commence, which includes laying the third rail and installing the signaling system. The Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind Airport Metro project received approval in 2010 and is being executed in five phases.The first two phases, connecting Kavi Subhash to Hemant Mukhopadhyay and then to Belghoria, are already operational with passenger services. An official stated, “The inspection conducted with the push trolley from Belghoria to the IT Center shows that significant work has been completed. Once this phase is operational, the number of passengers is expected to increase substantially, as it will directly link the city’s IT hub to the southern areas.” Kolkata was the first city in India to launch metro services, starting operations in 1984.However, its current metro network spans only about 73 kilometers, which is less than that of several other cities that introduced metro systems later. Metro Railway has overcome most obstacles and aims to expand the network to at least 130 kilometers in the coming years. Work is progressing on both the Orange Line and the Purple Line (from Joka to Esplanade), with construction set to begin soon on the stretch from Baranagar to Barrackpore. Recently, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for relocating a water pipeline running beneath BT Road.This NOC had been pending for several years, and its approval will allow for the construction of the viaduct along BT Road. Additionally, there are plans to resume another metro link from the airport to Barasat. This will alleviate traffic pressure on Jessore Road and provide commuters from suburban areas with another travel option. In the fiscal year 2025-26, Kolkata Metro served 236 million passengers, averaging about 650,000 daily riders. With the network's expansion, this number is expected to rise further, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions through improved public transport.Soon, an automatic train running system will be implemented on the Orange Line, enhancing safety by preventing trains from passing red signals, even if the operator is distracted.