Bidhannagar Police granted Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) clearance to bridge a 120-metre viaduct gap along VIP Road near Kaikhali on Kolkata Metro's Orange Line.

The permission allows RVNL to shift and position a launching girder to construct the elevated viaduct between piers 826 and 832 near Haj House. Once completed, metro infrastructure will be continuous from the VIP Road Metro station to the ramp section towards the airport.

The Kaikhali stretch had been stalled for several months despite completion of multiple pillars, including three specialised portal piers for curved sections. Delays were due to pending traffic management permissions caused by heavy vehicular movement on VIP Road.

The 32 km Orange Line corridor will connect New Garia with Kolkata Airport. Most of the alignment is elevated; the line transitions underground for the final 850 metres approaching the airport terminal.

Another breakthrough occurred at Chingrighata, where police recently permitted traffic restrictions for the final 366-metre viaduct section connecting Beleghata and Sector V.

Airport-bound commuters on VIP Road need to leave early for three months from Sunday. Bidhannagar police and PWD blocking three lanes of airport-bound flank between Haldirams crossing and Kaikhali to facilitate construction of final two pillars of New Garia-Airport Orange Line metro corridor. New traffic arrangement came into effect on trial basis around 7pm Saturday, with police diverting airport-bound traffic to Ultadanga-bound flank of VIP Road. 225-metre-long stretch of airport-bound carriageway cordoned off, spanning two lanes, with only one 3.5-metre-wide lane remaining open for two-wheelers and small vehicles. Metro officials said actual piling work would begin next week after trial run.

PM Modi inaugurated key stretches of Green, Orange, and Yellow metro lines on August 22. Three new stretches: Sealdah to Esplanade (2.45 km), Noapara to Jaihind Bimanbandar (6.77 km), and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata (4.39 km).

Green Line connects Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector 5, linking Howrah railway station with IT hub. Expected to significantly cut travel time and boost residential demand in Salt Lake, New Town, and nearby areas.

Orange Line runs from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay at Ruby Crossing to Beleghata, enhancing connectivity in southern and eastern regions along EM Bypass.

Yellow Line covers 6.77 km with four stations: Noapara, Dum Dum Cantonment, Jessore Road, and Jai Hind Bimanbandar. Provides first direct metro link to airport.

Experts predict 5% property value rise in eastern and southern regions short to long term. Within 2–3 km radius of metro stations, strong development activity expected. Howrah new east–west link covers about 20 km in 12 minutes, expected to make adjoining localities within 3–4 km more accessible.

Airport zone: Kaikhali, Jessore Road, and adjoining areas have significant land parcels. Property prices range ₹1–2 crore, some projects under ₹1 crore.

Howrah: Premium residential projects like Ganga Riverfront priced ₹2–3 crore; properties away from riverfront around ₹1 crore.

Peripheral areas including Sodepur, Kamarhati, and Titagarh expected to be impacted. Many former industrial sites available for housing and commercial development.

Metro Railway Kolkata said the 6.77-km Yellow Line stretch between Noapara and Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Kolkata Airport, is set to begin services next week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate it on August 22, alongside the Sealdah–Esplanade Green Line and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)–Beleghata Orange Line sections.

The project cost approximately ₹1,866 crore and includes three new stations: Dum Dum Cantonment, Jessore Road and Jai Hind Bimanbandar. The four stations on the stretch are Noapara, Dum Dum Cantonment, Jessore Road and Jai Hind Bimanbandar. Jessore Road is on the surface, Noapara and Dum Dum Cantonment are on viaducts, and Bimanbandar is underground. Stations will have ticket counters, seating and elevators.

The link is expected to benefit residents of Baranagar, Tobin Road, Sinthee, Dum Dum, Nagerbazar and Kaikhali More. Noapara connects to the Blue Line towards Kavi Subhash; Dum Dum Cantonment is near Eastern Railway’s Sealdah–Bongaon section.