State government to complete Chandni Chowk metro work by February 15: High Court

Kolkata,
The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government and concerned authorities to complete the stalled Kolkata Metro work at the Chingrihata crossing by February 15, 2026, at all costs. The metro line connects Sector 5 to south Kolkata and is crucial for thousands of commuters daily.
During the hearing, a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Subrata Pal observed that the prolonged delay is causing immense hardship to the public. The court ordered the state government to inform Kolkata Metro Railway by January 6, 2026, of three specific dates when traffic restrictions would be allowed, enabling the completion of the final phase of the overhead metro viaduct on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass near the Salt Lake Stadium.
The court clearly stated that the project is repeatedly getting stalled due to the non-availability of permission to block traffic at busy intersections like Chingrihata. The court termed the matter serious, saying that the lack of coordination is affecting public interest.
The petition stated that at least three nights of traffic control were necessary to erect the viaduct spanning around 366 meters, but permission from the city police is yet to be obtained. The direction was given during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that raised the issue of delay in the metro corridor from Subhash in south Kolkata to the airport in north Kolkata via Sector 5.
The petitioners informed the court that most of the work on the metro corridor is complete, but the work has been stalled for a long time due to differences over traffic management in the Chingrihata area. During the hearing, the bench noted that the route is crucial for commuters traveling between south Kolkata and the busy commercial area of Sector 5. The court emphasized the urgent need for all agencies to work in coordination.