Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line extension from Beleghata to Sector V has completed its first trial run, moving the corridor closer to a possible passenger service launch from Kavi Subhash, also known as New Garia, by December 25. The proposed opening is subject to clearance from the Railway Safety Commissioner.
The successful trial was conducted on Saturday along the extended section between Beleghata and Sector V. The route includes the Gour Kishore Ghosh, Nalban and Sector V stations. If passenger operations begin as proposed, commuters will be able to travel directly from Kavi Subhash to Sector V, a major employment district in eastern Kolkata.
The Orange Line currently provides passenger services on only a nine-kilometre stretch between Kavi Subhash and Beleghata. The extension would take the operational network beyond 15 kilometres, according to the report. The additional connectivity is expected to benefit people working in Sector V by reducing the need for road-based travel for the journey from New Garia and surrounding areas.
The trial run follows the completion of long-delayed work at Chingrighata. Construction on the Orange Line extension had remained stalled at the location for approximately two and a half years. The report said that work restarted after obstacles related to the project were resolved following a change in the state government.
The Chingrighata section involved 366 metres of work and associated line infrastructure. According to the report, this portion and related works were completed in 90 days, allowing the metro authorities to conduct the trial run between Beleghata and Sector V.
The trial run is an operational milestone, but it does not by itself authorise passenger services. The extended section must first receive clearance from the Railway Safety Commissioner. Only after that approval can regular passenger operations begin. The report identified December 25 as the possible date for direct services from Kavi Subhash to Sector V, while also making clear that the final launch depends on the statutory safety process.
The extension would alter the current reach of the Orange Line by connecting the existing Beleghata terminus with stations serving the Chingrighata and Sector V areas. Sector V is one of Kolkata’s principal office and employment clusters, and the proposed direct service would connect it to the southern end of the Orange Line without requiring passengers to complete the entire journey by road.
The next formal step is the safety inspection and clearance process. Passenger services will begin only after the Railway Safety Commissioner’s approval and the completion of the operational requirements for the extended corridor.
