Public Money Lost, Metro Work Halted: Calcutta HC to Hear PIL on Orange Line Delay
The Calcutta High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation challenging the indefinite delay in completing a crucial segment of the Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line, with the petitioner attributing the hold-up to the prolonged failure of the West Bengal government to grant necessary clearances.
The petition moved by citizen-activist, Upamanyu Bhattacharya, seeks judicial intervention against what is described as a "deliberate and unjustified" non-issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the state’s traffic authorities, which has brought work on the 366-metre stretch between Beleghata and Gour Kishore Ghosh stations to a standstill.
Though the Orange Line project received approval in 2010, the viaduct segment at Chingrighata junction remains incomplete. The petitioner argues that the delay, despite repeated requests and site inspections by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), amounts to breach of fundamental rights under Articles 14 and 21, depriving lakhs of commuters of access to efficient public transport and causing avoidable fiscal loss to the public exchequer.
The plea notes that RVNL constructed an alternate two-lane road for traffic diversion, on the request of Kolkata Traffic Police, and addressed all observations following an inspection conducted in January 2025. A formal request for NOC was made on January 31, yet no permission was granted. By RVNL’s own admission, efforts continued through February to June 2025, including inspections with the Commissioner of Police, meetings with Secretariat officials, and a visit by the Railway Minister on June 28. Still, the requisite NOC for traffic diversion at Chingrighata was not issued, halting segment launching work since February 2.
The PIL contends that the inaction is "utterly unwarranted" and "arbitrary", especially given that traffic diversions are a routine part of Metro construction across Kolkata.
It cites official figures stating that the delay has cost Metro authorities Rs. 1,376 crore over three financial years, a burden borne ultimately by the taxpayer. The petitioner points out that this single segment is holding up the operationalisation of the entire Orange Line, which would otherwise complete Kolkata’s first Metro ring and seamlessly connect the Blue, Green, and Orange corridors.
The petition also argues that the denial of essential urban infrastructure without valid reason infringes the constitutional obligation to provide public utility services and violates the Directive Principles of State Policy.
The matter is expected to be taken up on July 31, 2025.
Reliefs Sought:
1. A writ of mandamus directing the State of West Bengal and relevant police authorities to immediately issue the pending NOC for traffic diversion at Chingrighata to facilitate viaduct work.
2. A writ mandating the authorities to complete the Orange Line within six months, or such time as the Court may deem fit.
3. Constitution of a court-appointed supervisory committee headed by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court to oversee timely completion of the project.
4. Direction to transmit all relevant records pertaining to the non-grant of NOC to the Court for judicial scrutiny.
Case Title: Upamanyu Bhattacharya v. The State of West Bengal & Ors.
Hearing Date: July 31, 2025