Supreme Court slams Bengal govt over Kolkata metro delays, asks not to politicise development

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday criticised the West Bengal government for "creating roadblocks" in the ongoing construction of a Kolkata Metro corridor, warning the state not to politicise a development project that benefits the public.A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi dismissed a plea by the state government and asked the Calcutta High Court to continue monitoring the project. "We are only pointing out that the high court has been very magnanimous to you (state government). This was a fit case where your chief secretary, DGP and other authorities should have been subjected to some action. This shows complete dereliction of your constitutional duty. You are running away from your responsibilities. This is just an attempt to politicise an issue where there is no such issue. We would not appreciate the state government politicising a developmental issue, which is beneficial for the common man," CJI Kant told the counsel representing the Bengal government.The CJI added, "We must not politicise everything. This is a developmental issue. It is a facility for the common man. Don't create roadblocks."When the state’s counsel argued that the project could not proceed due to the model code of conduct and ongoing board examinations, the bench noted that the high court had issued its order on December 23, 2025, and asked, "What prevented the state government from complying with the directions since then?"Justice Bagchi emphasised that the Election Commission cannot object to this ongoing development project. "For you, festivals are more important than development. It is not that you are willing, you are duty-bound. You told the high court that you have festivals to take care of. Is a festival more important than the construction of a transport artery? We do not appreciate a democratically elected government knocking on the door of the court and asking for this to be ignored. The Election Commission will not have a difficulty in allowing the project. This was a project launched before the commencement of the model code of conduct. We will not allow the state to use this as a bogey to stall development again," Justice Bagchi said.The state counsel also raised concerns that roadblocks for construction could affect ambulances and emergency vehicles, and sought time until May to comply with the high court’s directions. The top court refused the request and warned that the appeal against the December 23 order would be dismissed.The bench noted, "This merely exhibits the obstinate attitude of the authorities, wherein they want to delay and stall the Metro rail project in Kolkata. There was no infirmity in the order passed by the high court; we are sure that the project is completed in a time-bound manner."The high court had expressed concern over delays in the Metro line connecting the IT hub in Sector V, Salt Lake, with south Kolkata, due to a deadlock over roadblock permissions at Chingrighata crossing on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. It had directed the authorities to inform Metro Railway by January 6 about the three days needed for road closure and ordered that construction of the overhead Metro tracks be completed by February 15, 2026.Petitioners in the PIL noted that while most of the Kavi Subhash–Sector V line is complete, work at Chingrighata crossing has been stalled for a long period.