Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) has begun the demolition of the final standing building that was obstructing the completion of the Orange Line in Kolkata.

What Happened: The last of the eight buildings opposite Captain Bheri off EM Bypass is being demolished, as per a Times of India report. This move will bridge the 850m viaduct gap at Chingrighata, allowing the Orange Line to extend its operations to Sector V in the coming months.

Over the past five years, RVNL has successfully negotiated compensation claims with the occupants of the seven previous buildings and demolished them. The removal of the eighth building will pave the way for the Orange Line to extend beyond Metropolitan, where a 125m viaduct gap is set to be filled.

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RVNL is working towards a December 2024 deadline to complete the Metropolitan-Sector V section of the corridor. The Orange Line will intersect with the East-West Metro or Green Line at Sector V. Currently, the line operates a 5.4km stretch from New Garia to Ruby.

The last hurdle was a four-storey building at Majherpara, a locality tucked behind the Dhapa lock-gate pumping station to the west of Chingrighata-EM Bypass crossing. The building was erected before the Metro alignment was announced in October 2011.

In September 2024, RVNL had to make design changes to the penultimate station of the Orange Line Metro at Chinar Park due to pavement encroachment by local eateries.

Later in the same month, the construction of the Orange Line's Metro pier in Kolkata commenced, indicating the filling of the 400m viaduct gap at the New Town gateway. The project required the slicing of the bridge connecting Salt Lake and New Town due to a highrise complex obstructing the path.

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