The future of the highly anticipated Garia-Airport Metro corridor (Orange Line) is hanging by a thread as the construction at the crucial Chingrighata junction remains stalled. In a major development, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has approached the Supreme Court with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) to resolve the ongoing impasse with the state government and local authorities. The primary bone of contention remains the placement of metro pillars at the chaotic Chingrighata intersection, which connects South Kolkata to the IT hub of Sector V.

The state administration has consistently denied permission for the construction, citing that the installation of pillars in that specific zone would trigger an irreversible traffic disaster. Despite several rounds of high-level meetings between RVNL and state officials, no consensus on the design or traffic diversion has been reached. With billions of rupees at stake and the 2026 deadline fast approaching, the metro authorities believe that only a judicial intervention can clear the path. If the Supreme Court provides a favorable ruling, work might resume under strict supervision; otherwise, commuters might have to wait years longer for this vital link to be operational.