Construction of a foot-over bridge linking Beleghata Metro station with the western side of EM Bypass has begun, creating a safer and more direct access route for passengers before the Orange Line is extended to Sector V.
Two pillars on either side of the road have already been completed, while work on the third pillar, located near the median of EM Bypass, is under way. A section of the road beside the divider has been cordoned off to support the construction activity. The steel structure for the bridge has also reached the site.
Once the central pillar is completed, the steel framework will be installed over it. A concrete floor will then be built to complete the pedestrian crossing. Officials said the entire structure could be completed in about a month, subject to the progress of the remaining work.
The bridge is intended to address a current access problem at the station. Passengers travelling from the western side of EM Bypass presently have to cross the road from the Metropolitan crossing or Mathpukur side to reach Beleghata station. After the bridge is commissioned, commuters will be able to reach the station directly from the western service road without crossing the carriageway at street level.
The access improvement is being undertaken ahead of the planned extension of the Orange Line towards Sector V. At present, Orange Line services operate up to Beleghata. Metro Railway general manager Prem Sagar Gupta has said that the target for extending services to Sector V is December 31, 2026, while officials expect operations to begin around Christmas.
The planned extension is expected to increase passenger movement at Beleghata station, making the pedestrian connection across EM Bypass an important part of the station’s approach infrastructure. The bridge is likely to be particularly useful for people travelling to Sector V for work, as well as passengers approaching the station from the western service road. The immediate construction milestone is the completion of the central pillar, after which the steel framework will be placed and the concrete walking surface prepared.