The construction of the Orange Line’s Metro pier in Kolkata has finally commenced. The project required the slicing of the bridge connecting Salt Lake and New Town.

What Happened: The initiation of the construction work indicates that the 400m viaduct gap at the New Town gateway is being filled, The Times of India said in a report. The Mahisbathan bridge was reduced by 1.5m to accommodate the alignment of the New Garia-Airport (Orange) line due to a highrise complex obstructing the path.

The highrise was initially planned to be positioned between two pillars and the Metro viaduct, infringing 1.2m into the building towers. However, without Pier 479, an additional 10 piers would have had to be dropped, leading to a 1.4km gap along the elevated viaduct.

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Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the agency responsible for implementing the 29km New Garia-Airport Metro, had been considering various alternatives for several years. Consultants suggested slicing a 3.2m wide section off Ramdhanu's two towers from the front. However, experts from Jadavpur University found the building’s foundation too weak to endure such ‘surgery’, an official revealed.

Why It Matters: This development comes after RVNL was compelled to alter the design for the penultimate station of the Orange Line Metro at Chinar Park due to pavement encroachment by local eateries in September 2024. This hindered RVNL from securing an alternate space for traffic movement.

Earlier in August 2024, RVNL had completed the construction of two piers of the Orange Line at Metropolitan, Kolkata, a month ahead of the scheduled traffic block end date. This progress paved the way for the construction of a viaduct atop the piers and the filling of a 125m gap at the site on the EM Bypass.

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