Unlocking Chingrighata: Metro’s Bold Bid for KMDA Support and City Ease

Image Source: Telegraph India

Kolkata Metro has formally requested the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) to contribute ₹20 crore—half the total cost—for the construction of the much-anticipated Chingrighata underpass. This move is critical to resolving traffic bottlenecks and accelerating the Orange Line’s extension to Sector V.

Key Highlights:

Kolkata Metro, through its implementing agency Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), has asked KMDA to deposit ₹20 crore, representing 50% of the proposed underpass’s cost, as per the agreement with the state government.
The underpass is designed as a three-way pedestrian subway with entry/exit points at Canal South Road, Sukantanagar, and Jal Vayu Vihar, aiming to improve pedestrian safety and reduce accidents at the busy Chingrighata intersection.
The project has faced repeated delays due to pending approvals and coordination issues. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) finally approved the basic design in April 2025 after a prolonged wait.
Construction methodology approval from KMDA is still awaited, and Metro authorities have emphasized the urgency to expedite this process to avoid further delays.

The underpass is also crucial for the completion of the Orange Line’s Ruby–Sector V stretch, as police have withheld traffic blocks for girder-launching until the underpass is built, stalling work since February 2.

The urban development department has planned the underpass in tandem with a foot overbridge, providing a comprehensive solution for pedestrian movement at the intersection.

Once greenlit, the underpass is expected to take about six months to complete, paving the way for seamless Metro connectivity and safer pedestrian access in one of Kolkata’s busiest transit zones.

Source: Times of India