The highly anticipated Orange Line metro link between New Garia and the airport in Kolkata is rapidly approaching its completion. With the construction entering a crucial phase, the focus is now on curving the metro line toward the airport while minimizing disruption to traffic on VIP Road, the vital route connecting the city to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
The implementing agency, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), has completed the basic work for the underground tunnels along VIP Road’s median, covering a span of 72 meters. As the construction moves closer to the airport, the agency has requested modifications to the existing traffic block to ensure a smoother flow of Kolkata-bound traffic. RVNL has also created a new stretch of road space to facilitate the movement of vehicles during the next phase of work.
A five-day traffic trial is set to begin next week. The trial will assess whether the newly adjusted traffic flow can accommodate the changes, as the road space narrows and shifts to allow for the continuation of metro construction. “We want to check if there is a bottleneck at this point and how the traffic behaves in the changed situation,” said a senior state official. The Orange Line, part of the larger Kolkata Metro expansion project, is being constructed in phases to prevent traffic disruptions. The first phase, which started in April, involved building the diaphragm wall (D-wall) and top slab, extending about 700 meters from the airport. A 100-meter-long stretch of road was diverted on the Kolkata-bound side of VIP Road to make space for the underground tunnels. For the final phase of construction, RVNL has been tasked with building a 300-meter ramp and 500 meters of twin tunnels using the cut-and-cover method. The underground portion will complement the mostly elevated 29-meter metro corridor.
To maintain traffic flow during construction, RVNL has carefully coordinated with the Bidhannagar traffic department and the state Public Works Department (PWD), who recently inspected the new road and the construction site. The traffic trial will test the adjusted road system, guiding vehicles toward a mandatory left turn along a narrower 20-meter stretch, before narrowing further as it approaches Kaikhali, where the road will widen again to meet the original Kolkata-bound VIP Road. As the final phase of construction begins, RVNL will also begin digging piles for the ongoing ramp construction, extending the barricading towards Kaikhali. The traffic signal post will also be relocated to facilitate U-turns for vehicles. With this strategic approach, the project is set to bring Kolkata one step closer to a more efficient and accessible metro system, enhancing connectivity between the city and the airport.
