Kolkata Metro's Orange Line reached a significant construction milestone on 20 September 2026 as Metro Railway completed the first push trolley inspection on the Beleghata–IT Centre section — the third phase of the 32-km Kavi Subhash–Jai Hind Bimanbandar Metro Corridor. The inspection confirms that viaduct and ballastless track (BLT) works on this stretch are substantially done, clearing the path for the next round of electrical fitments.

What the Milestone Means

A push trolley inspection is the standard process used by Indian metro railways to verify that viaduct structures and track geometry are sound before heavier works begin. Completion of this check on the Beleghata–IT Centre stretch means crews can now move on to laying the third rail and installing signalling systems — both prerequisites before trial runs can be scheduled.

'The push trolley inspection of the third phase, from Beleghata to the IT Centre, indicates that substantial work has been completed. Once this phase gets operational, traffic will go up manifold as it will directly connect the city's IT hub to its southern neighbourhoods,' an official said.

The Broader Orange Line Project

The Kavi Subhash–Jai Hind Bimanbandar corridor, sanctioned in 2010, is being built in five phases. The first two — Kavi Subhash to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata — have already been commissioned and are carrying passengers. When Phase III opens, the line will link Kolkata's southern residential neighbourhoods directly to the city's IT hub at New Town, Salt Lake, dramatically cutting commute times for tech-sector workers.

Notably, the Orange Line is also set to be equipped with an auto train running system — a safety mechanism that prevents trains from overrunning red signals even if the motorman is distracted, bringing the corridor in line with modern metro safety standards.

Kolkata Metro's Network Expansion Plans

Kolkata holds the distinction of being India's first metro city, with services dating back to 1984. However, its current network of roughly 73 km lags well behind systems in other Indian cities that launched later. Metro Railway is now targeting a network of at least 130 km over the next few years, addressing decades of under-investment.

Work is simultaneously progressing on the Purple Line (Joka to Esplanade), and construction of the Baranagar–Barrackpore stretch is expected to begin soon. A separate link from the airport to Barasat is also being revived, which would ease congestion on Jessore Road and offer a rail alternative for suburban commuters.

Pipeline Clearance Unblocks Baranagar–Barrackpore Stretch

One long-standing bottleneck on the expansion plan has been a water pipeline running beneath B.T. Road, owned by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). After years of stalled negotiations that frustrated the Ministry of Railways, the KMC has now issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the pipeline's relocation. Once the pipe is physically shifted, viaduct construction along B.T. Road can begin, removing the last structural obstacle on that alignment.

Ridership and Environmental Impact

In 2025–26, Kolkata Metro carried 23.60 crore passengers — an average of roughly 6.5 lakh riders per day. As the network grows, those numbers are expected to climb, with each additional corridor shifting commuters away from road transport and helping reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions. The Orange Line's eventual full commissioning — connecting the city's south to the airport via the IT corridor — is expected to be among the biggest ridership drivers in the system's history.