Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line is set to extend further into the city’s IT hub after completing pending work at Chingrighata. Trial runs on the Beleghata to Sector V section reportedly began on October 10. The stretch will improve Metro access to Salt Lake’s IT district and add three stations to the operational network. The immediate focus is on completing these checks, with December 31, 2026, reported as the target for service to begin.
Chingrighata Work Clears a Key Hurdle
The unfinished section at Chingrighata had held up progress on the Orange Line extension towards Sector V. The remaining work covered 366 meters, including a 62-meter gap at a road crossing and another 304 meters across 10 spans.
Construction at the crossing required coordination with the West Bengal government to divert traffic. The pending work was reportedly completed in May 2026 after permission was granted for a temporary traffic diversion.
With this section completed, the project has moved from a major construction bottleneck to the testing stage. The next step is to establish whether the extension is ready for passenger operations.
Orange Line Trials Begin Ahead of Sector V Opening Target
Trial runs on the Beleghata to Sector V stretch reportedly started on October 10, 2026. Testing includes checks on train operations and the signaling system, including communications-based train control, known as CBTC.
The tests are intended to assess the performance of the new section before it carries passengers. The Metro must also complete the applicable safety inspection and obtain the required clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety. Officials have set December 31, 2026, as the target for starting services on this stretch. The timeline will depend on test results, safety approvals, and operational readiness.
Kolkata Metro Orange Line Route and Project Details
The Orange Line, also known as Metro Line 6, is planned as a 32 km corridor linking Kavi Subhash in New Garia with Jai Hind Bimanbandar near the airport. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is implementing the project.
The 9.8 km section between New Garia and Beleghata has been commissioned in phases. The next stretch towards Sector V will add Gour Kishore Ghosh, Nalban and IT Center stations.
The IT Center station is planned to connect with the Green Line, which links Sector V with central Kolkata, Sealdah, Esplanade and Howrah Maidan. The interchange is expected to give commuters access to a wider part of the city’s Metro network.
Kolkata Metro Orange Line Airport Link Still Awaits Completion
The Kolkata Metro Orange Line will extend beyond Sector V to Jai Hind Bimanbandar near the airport, but the remaining sections are yet to be completed. The opening of the Beleghata to Sector V stretch will mark progress on the corridor, rather than its completion. Some reports have put the remaining work on a 2027 timeline. However, the airport link’s completion date remains subject to the construction schedule and official confirmation.
How could the Orange Line affect Kolkata’s real estate?
Square Yards Data Intelligence data highlights price differences along the Orange Line corridor. Beleghata’s average apartment price reached around Rs 11,100 per square foot (psf) in mid-2026, up 31.2% year-on-year, while New Garia averaged Rs 5,200 psf Salt Lake City stood at approximately Rs 12,350 psf, compared with Rs 10,200 psf in Sector V. Beleghata’s average monthly rent for a 2-BHK apartment was around Rs 11,900.
Improved Metro connectivity to Sector V could support housing demand in Beleghata and nearby areas by making daily commutes more convenient. It may also improve the appeal of comparatively lower-priced locations along the corridor, including New Garia. However, price differences reflect several factors beyond connectivity, and recent appreciation cannot be attributed to the Metro project alone.
