Trial runs have begun on the Beleghata–Sector V section of Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line, reconnecting a stretch that had been held up by a 366-metre viaduct gap at Chingrighata and bringing passenger services on the three-station extension closer to launch.
The trial operations began on October 10, marking the first time a Metro rake travelled across the completed section between Beleghata and Sector V. The stretch forms part of the Kavi Subhash–Jai Hind Bimanbandar corridor, commonly known as the Orange Line, which is planned to eventually connect southern Kolkata with the airport.
Suvendu Adhikari, speaking at the inauguration of the Ozen Hotel near Akankha Crossing in New Town, described the progress at Chingrighata as a major infrastructure achievement. “The government kept it pending for 17 months; we gave the clearance in 17 days,” he said, referring to the clearance process for the stalled work.
The completed extension includes three stations: Gour Kishore Ghosh, Nalban and IT Centre at Sector V. The Sector V station is located in Kolkata’s major technology and employment district, making the section important for commuters travelling to the area from the southern parts of the city and its surrounding urban region.
The trial phase will continue for several weeks while Metro authorities carry out software alignment, system synchronisation, signalling checks and other technical and operational inspections. The section is also testing a Communication-Based Train Control, or CBTC, signalling system, which must be assessed before regular passenger operations can begin.
Passenger services have been targeted around Christmas, subject to the successful completion of trials and the receipt of all necessary clearances. The timeline therefore remains dependent on technical certification and operational readiness rather than on the completion of civil construction alone.
The key physical barrier was a 366-metre viaduct gap at Chingrighata. RVNL subsequently completed the viaduct and track-laying work, allowing the Beleghata–Sector V section to be connected. The Orange Line currently operates between Kavi Subhash and Beleghata; opening the new extension would take the operational route beyond 14 kilometres.
The Sector V extension is expected to improve direct Metro access to the IT Centre while also representing a further step in the long-delayed development of the wider airport corridor. The next milestones are the completion of the trial period, technical and signalling clearances, and a final decision on the start of passenger services.
