Kolkata Orange Line Targets Direct New Garia–Sector V Metro Link by December 2026

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Sat, Aug 15, 12:35 PM IST • 3 min read

Kolkata’s Orange Line Metro is moving closer to a major connectivity milestone, with Metro Railway targeting the start of passenger services between New Garia and Sector V by December 31, 2026.

The proposed connection is expected to strengthen Metro connectivity between South Kolkata and the city’s major IT and business district. While Sector V already has Metro access through the Green Line, the Orange Line will provide a direct connection from New Garia, offering commuters an alternative and potentially much faster route.

New Garia to Sector V Journey Could Take Around 35 Minutes

Once operational, the Orange Line could significantly reduce travel time between New Garia and Sector V.

The journey, which can currently take around 1.5 hours, including during peak periods, is expected to come down to approximately 35 minutes through the direct Metro connection.

This could benefit thousands of daily commuters travelling between South Kolkata, New Garia and the Sector V business district.

Chingrighata Bottleneck Nears Completion

One of the key challenges for the Orange Line has been the viaduct gap at Chingrighata.

Work on the critical stretch is now nearing completion. RVNL has reportedly bridged 335 metres of the 366-metre gap, leaving around 31 metres of the concrete-deck segment to be completed.

Track laying has also started on the newly constructed viaduct, indicating that the project is moving into an important finishing stage.

CRS Approval Will Be the Final Hurdle

Despite the progress in construction, passenger services cannot begin immediately after physical completion.

The completed infrastructure will have to undergo inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). Passenger operations can commence only after the required safety inspection and approval.

This makes the completion of the remaining construction work, followed by testing and CRS clearance, critical to meeting the December 31, 2026 target.

A New Metro Link for Kolkata’s IT Corridor

The direct Orange Line connection could have a wider impact on Kolkata’s urban mobility network.

Sector V is one of Kolkata’s most important employment and commercial centres, with a large concentration of IT, IT-enabled services, corporate offices and businesses. Improved Metro connectivity from South Kolkata could make daily commuting more convenient while reducing dependence on road-based transport.

For commuters from New Garia and surrounding areas, the Orange Line could provide a more direct route towards Sector V without requiring an indirect journey through existing Metro corridors.

What the Orange Line Could Mean for Kolkata

If the December 2026 target is achieved, the New Garia–Sector V connection would represent another significant step in the expansion of Kolkata’s Metro network.

The combination of the Orange Line and existing Green Line connectivity would give Sector V a stronger position within Kolkata’s rapidly expanding Metro network. Faster connections between residential areas and employment hubs could also support greater public transport usage and contribute to more efficient urban mobility.

For now, the focus remains on completing the final stretch at Chingrighata, finishing track-related work, conducting the necessary tests and securing CRS approval.

If everything stays on schedule, Kolkata could see direct Orange Line passenger services between New Garia and Sector V by December 31, 2026.

Kolkata Orange Line: Key Highlights

  • Target: Passenger operations up to Sector V/IT Centre by December 31, 2026
  • Route: New Garia to Sector V
  • Current Sector V connectivity: Green Line
  • Key bottleneck: Chingrighata
  • Viaduct gap: 366 metres
  • Completed: 335 metres
  • Remaining: Approximately 31 metres
  • Track work: Underway on the new viaduct
  • Final approval: CRS inspection and clearance
  • Expected travel time: Around 35 minutes
  • Current travel time: Around 1.5 hours

The Orange Line is therefore emerging as an important addition to Kolkata’s Metro expansion, with the potential to transform the daily commute between New Garia and Sector V.