The audacious expansion of the Kolkata Metro, a lifeline for one of India’s biggest and most clogged cities, has encountered an enormous regulatory roadblock. As many as 20 km of the ongoing metro rail project have been severely delayed, with chronic problems like land acquisition, encroachment removal and pending utility clearances that come under the State Government’s domain being the major reason for that.
Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister submitted a comprehensive status report that points to bureaucratic impediments delaying vital Infra push. Even as it showcased the commissioning of 45 km new route in the last 11 years (2014-2025), against a mere addition of just 28 km over the previous 42 years, Vaishnaw acknowledged that close to 40 % work on the ongoing construction of 52 km across four corridors was stalled.
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The Four Corridors 1
It’s not just in one place: Acres of under- and overgrown land sit idle along these leading expansion corridors, which were meant to link Kolkata’s teeming suburbs and commercial hubs with the city center.
The Joka–Esplanade Line (Purple Line)
It is on this vital corridor, now in operation up to Majerhat, that there are long bottlenecks on the final stretch (the remaining 6.26 km to Esplanade).
The Khidderpur Holdup: Land to be given back from the KPAP (Kolkata Armed Police) for the one station, Khiderpore was pending for almost 5 years at stretch receiving clearances only by July 2025.
New Garia–Airport Line (Orange Line)
While the New Garia – Beleghata stretch is ready one; 22.2 km till Dum Dum Airport is stuck, not for land acquisition but clearance suspension by administraitve hoopla Media perception of Metro Even as existing plans are being held back, there has been no talk about any new Metro project or route from this government hover forever and the permanent demand for a complete review of existing official attitude to make it pro-cabin industry.
The Chingrighata Standstill: Almost a decade of hindrance, with progress stalled as Kolkata Police refuses to give NOC for night-time traffic diversions. This temporary hold-up is necessary to make the metro viaduct bypass the crowded Chingrighata crossing, even though Railways got the diversion road built in February 2025 itself.
Noapara–Barasat Corridor (Yellow Line)
This line is also bogged down by the classic problems of land and encroachment in the 7.5 km-stretch averaging from New Barrackpore to Barasat.
Work on this 7.5 km stretch is stalled for want of acquisition of around 23,000 square meters of land and demolition of hundreds hutments and shop, issues which the Minister said have not been settled with state authorities yet stating that it is in condition to clear these obstacles at any point in time.
Baranagar–Barrackpore Line (Pink Line)
This line’s last section connecting Baranagar and Barrackpore is, however, now stuck because of an issue that has been more than a decade old: pending utility shifting. KOLKATA: A vital KMC water pipeline was actually moved in 2012 but the requisite NOC from, DEPARTMENT the state government has never been issued formally for the alignment change, leaving the a family’s project hanging.
The Price of Waiting: Annoyance and Soaring Costs
The lament that there is inordinate pollution and it will be completed, followed by tree felling if the project goes ahead, should also have valid this long drawn process of decision making adds to a multiplying inconvenience and expensive repeat financial cost for people who use kolkata as an intervening station. Batting issues back and forth between the state and central governments is only increasing public frustration, with large infrastructural projects becoming political footballs.
The Minister’s submission to Parliament is an official plea, asking the West Bengal government to address and resolve a series of long-pending issues—NOCS for traffic diversion being among the simplest; rehabilitation of displaced being one of the most complex—so that this monumental investment begins serving those who venture into Kolkata in hope of better mobility and improved economic prospects.
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