KP gives nod for Bypass block, Metro work at Chingrighata to start in May

Kolkata: Cops have given Metro Railway the much-awaited green signal for traffic diversion on EM Bypass —a new 500m stretch has been built parallel to the Chingrighata flyover for commute—to bridge the viaduct gap over Chingrighata for Orange Line. The work might be carried out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, starting May 15, and again on three such weekend nights from May 22, the traffic department said. Once the 366m gap at Chingrighata is bridged, the Orange Line, which starts its journey from New Garia, can run till Sector V.Since Feb 2 last year, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the implementing agency of the New Garia-Airport Metro corridor has been seeking a no-objection certificate for night traffic blocks around Chingrighata to build the viaduct (on which Metro tracks are laid), linking piers 317, 318 and 319 and bridge the 366m gap.Girder-launching work to fill this gap between Beleghata and Gour Kishor Ghosh stations has been stalled for over a year because of the pending NOC. Kolkata Police withheld the go-ahead for closure of a part of the crossing despite RVNL having constructed the alternative 500m road for traffic diversion.A PIL was filed in the Calcutta High Court, alleging Kolkata Police was sitting on the NOC. The HC set a Feb 15, 2026, deadline to complete the Metro work. The state challenged the order in the Supreme Court, which dismissed the special leave petition (SLP) on March 23.RVNL on March 24 wrote to the traffic department reminding them of the NOC. In reply, police suggested that the traffic blocks could be granted "on the nights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first phase and on the next Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the Assembly elections, preferably on and from May 15". The Chingrighata impasse forced Metro Railway to defer the Orange Line's Beleghata (Metropolitan)-Sector V launch to early 2027 from the original deadline of June 2025. The Orange Line now runs between New Garia and Beleghata (Metropolitan) stations.A KP officer said the decision to issue the NOC was taken following a meeting, chaired by commissioner Ajay Nand and senior traffic officers on Monday. "After the elections, if the Metro work is carried out on six days, even with the ISL going on, it will not hamper our daily work," said a senior Lalbazar officer.Police said they awaited statistics of the evening and night traffic at Chingrighata to collect hourly data of vehicle volume. The trials, conducted along the slip road near Captain Bheri and connecting the Ultadanga-bound flank from Chingrighata flyover to the Beleghata Canal Road-EM Bypass, will continue over the next few days. The trials are run twice a day. "The first one begins around 8.30 am and continues till 11.30 am. The next cycle starts from 5 pm and continues till 8.30 pm. This is catering to peak traffic hours," said an officer. "This cycle may be changed as required," said an officer.