Posted On:
03 DEC 2025 5:55PM by PIB Kolkata
Kolkata, December 3, 2025
Metro project in Kolkata started in 1972. The details of the Metro commissioned since then are as under:
Period Metro Commissioned
1972 to 2014 (42 years) 28 km
2014 to 2025 (11 years) 45 km
Presently, four metro corridors totaling 52 km are under construction in and around Kolkata out of which 20 km is held up due to land acquisition and utility shifting issues pertaining to the State Government. This was stated by Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today in Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question raised by MP Shri Kalyan Banerjee.
Shri Vaishnaw added that, the Joka – Esplanade (14 km):- Joka - Majerhat (7.74 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Majerhat to Esplanade (6.26 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues:
SN Location Issues
1. Khidderpore Metro Station
For utility shifting and road traffic diversion, 837 sqm permanent and 1,702 sqm temporary land of the State Government (Kolkata Armed Police) is required. The proposal of this land was sent to the State Government on August 24, 2020. Several meetings were held with officials of Government of West Bengal (GoWB) for transfer of above land. After much persuasion, the State Government finally accorded approval in July 2025 only after almost five years.
SN Location Issues
2. Dr. B.C. Roy Market
For construction of Esplanade Metro Station, temporary shifting of unauthorised 528 shops at the B.C. Roy Market on Defence land is required. The proposal for NOC of temporary/permanent shifting of these shops was submitted to the State Government in February 2022. Shops for temporary shifting of these unauthorized shops have also been constructed by the Railway. The State Government has been requested to facilitate shifting. Regular follow up with State PWD is also being done. Issue is pending for more than 3.5 years.
(ii) New Garia - Dum Dum Airport (32 km): New Garia – Belaghata (9.8 km) has been commissioned and balance work from Belaghata to Dum Dum Airport (22.2 km) has been taken up. However, progress of the work is affected due to the following issues:
SN Location Issues
1. Chingrighata Crossing (Between Beleghata –Gour Kishore Ghosh stations)
Temporary traffic diversion at Chingrighata crossing for launching of viaduct segments is required for 3 nights each on either side of the road (8 hours on every night).
The proposal was submitted to the Government of West Bengal (GoWB) in December 2024. The diversion road as desired by Kolkata traffic police has already been constructed in February 2025. Since then, several meetings have been held with various State Government and Kolkata police officials for NOC. The NOC is still awaited even after about 10 months.
The Railway Minister said, Noapara – Barasat (18 km): Noapara - Jai Hind Airport (6.77 km) has been commissioned and work from Jai Hind Airport to Michael Nagar is in progress. However, work from New Barrackpore to Barasat (7.5 km) is held up due to land acquisition and encroachment issues by State authorities.
SN Location Issues
1. New Barrackpore to Barasat
Land acquisition (23,000 sq. m) and removal of heavy encroachments (1,277 hutments, 764 shops) are involved in this section. The matter is not yet resolved by GoWB.
So far as Baranagar – Barrackpore - Dakshineshwar (14.5 km): Baranagar – Dakshineshwar (2 km) is concerned, the job has been commissioned and balance work from Baranagar to Barrackpore (12.5 km) is held up due to pending utility shifting in the alignment by State Government authorities, Shri Vaishnaw stated. The details are as below:
SN Location Issues
1. Baranagar to Barrackpore
The original alignment along the B.T road was agreed in 2011 as per MoU among Metro Railway, RVNL and Kolkata Municipal Corporation. As per the MoU, the existing pipeline was to be replaced by a new 64-inch diameter pipeline by the State Government. Shifting of this pipeline was completed in 2012. However, NOC is still awaited from the Government of West Bengal.
According to the Minister, Sheoraphuli is already connected with Howrah. Sheoraphuli is an existing station of Indian Railway Network on Howrah – Bandel Junction mainline having 5 tracks. Tarakeswar - Bishnupur (83 km) new line project is held up due to law-and-order issues in Goghat - Kamarpukur section falling in Hooghly district. The work was stopped by local villagers in about 900m length near Bhabadighi Pond. The work has been held up since 2016.
West Bengal
Budget allocation in recent years has increased significantly. Budget allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal is as under: -
Period Outlay
2009-14 ₹4,380 Cr./year
2025-26 ₹13,955 Cr. (More than 3 times)
As on April 1, 2025, 42 projects (12 New Lines, 04 Gauge Conversions and 26 Doubling), of total length of 4,402 km, costing ₹67,991 crore falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal have been sanctioned, out of which, 1,702 km length has been commissioned and an expenditure of ₹23,410 crore has been incurred till March, 2025.
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal are as under:
SN Project Cost
(₹ in Cr.)
1 Rampurhat-Mandarhill new line & Rampurhat-
Murarai 3rd line (159 km)
1,500
2 Azimganj - Murshidabad new line (7 km) 164
3 Bardhaman - Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 km) 696
4 Ahmedpur - Katwa Gauge Conversion (52 km) 440
5 Panskura - Kharagpur Doubling (45 km) 408
6 Lalgola - Jiaganj Doubling (23 km) 124
7 Krishnanagar - Bethuadahari Doubling (28 km) 152
8 Nabadwip Dham - Patuli Doubling (22 km) 170
9 Bethuadahari - Plassey Doubling (23 km) 132
10 Ambikakalna - Nabadwip Dham Doubling (23 km) 145
11 Nalhati - Sagardighi Doubling (26 km) 193
12 Tamluk Jn. – Basulya Sutahata Doubling (24 km) 245
13 Plassey - Jiaganj Doubling (54 km) 234
14 Azimganj - Manigram Doubling (21 km) 150
15 New Coochbehar - Gumanihat Doubling (29 km) 330
16 New Coochbehar- Samuktala Road Doubling (29 km) 445
17 Sainthia - Tarapith 3rd line (22 km) 186
18 Ambari Falakata - New Maynaguri Doubling (37 km) 843
19 Bandel - Boinchi 3rd line (31 km) 546
20 Boinchi - Shaktigarh 3rd line (26 km) 424
21 Bazar Sau - Azimganj Jn. Doubling (42 km) 343
22 Sagardighi - Malda Town Doubling (25 km) 248
23 Kharagpur - Narayangarh 3rd line (24 km) 270
24 Monigram - Nimtita Doubling (24 km) 713
25 Purulia - Kotshila Doubling (36 km) 393
Shri Vaishnaw pointed out that during the last three years (i.e. 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) and current Financial Year i.e. 2025-26, total 97 Nos. of Surveys (10 New Lines, 87 Doubling) falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal having a total length of 4,004 km have been sanctioned, stated the Railway Minister. He added, Execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of West Bengal is held up due to delay in land acquisition.
Deshapran - Nandigram (18.5 km) Line was sanctioned in 2009-10 at a cost of ₹121.44 crores. The entire Project length is located in East Midnapore District. The project could not progress due to problems in land acquisition and was kept in abeyance. In April 2023 it was decided to re-start the work. However, Survey for land acquisition from Deshapran to 5.0 km could not be completed due to law-and-order issues. As Deshapran is the connecting station, acquisition of this land is essential for commissioning of this project. Sanction of any railway project depends upon many parameters/factors which include the following:
· Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the
proposed route
First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
Connection of missing links and providing additional route
Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public representatives
Railway’s own operational requirements
Socio-economic considerations
Overall availability of funds
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors
which include the following:
Land acquisition by State Government
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for a particular project site etc.
*******
SSS/3.12.25…….