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Agartala, Tripura
New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court has delivered a sharp rebuke to the West Bengal government over delays in completing a crucial stretch of the Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line, calling the hold-up a serious lapse in constitutional responsibility.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on Monday dismissed the state’s plea challenging a prior High Court directive.
The court said the delay reflected an “obstinate attitude” aimed at stalling a key public infrastructure project.
The bench did not hold back in its criticism, stating that the state authorities had failed in their constitutional obligations.
The judges observed that the Calcutta High Court had already shown restraint and leniency, despite the prolonged delay.
Chief Justice Kant remarked that the issue was being unnecessarily politicised, stressing that the Metro project serves the public and should not be entangled in administrative or political disputes.
"We must not politicise everything. This is a developmental issue. It is a facility for the common man. Don't create roadblocks," the CJI said.
Justice Bagchi further criticised the state for prioritising non-essential concerns over infrastructure development, underlining that elected governments are duty-bound to facilitate such projects rather than obstruct them.
"For you, festivals are more important than development. It is not that you are willing, you are duty-bound," Justice Bagchi said. "You told the high court that you have festivals to take care of. Is a festival more important than the construction of a transport artery?"
The dispute centres on a 366-metre incomplete stretch near the busy Chingrighata crossing along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.
This small but critical gap has delayed the extension of the Metro line connecting New Garia to the airport.
The executing agency, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, had sought permission from local authorities to impose temporary night-time traffic restrictions to complete construction work.
However, the required No-Objection Certificate was not granted by the police, leading to a prolonged impasse.
After facing repeated delays, the agency approached the Calcutta High Court, which directed the state to cooperate and ensure timely completion.
The West Bengal government challenged the Calcutta High Court’s directive in the Supreme Court, seeking additional time, citing elections and administrative constraints.
The bench, however, refused to entertain these arguments.
The judges noted that the project predated the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and therefore could not be stalled on electoral grounds.
They questioned why the state had failed to act on the High Court’s December 2025 order for months.
The court also dismissed concerns about traffic disruptions and emergency services, indicating that such objections appeared to be part of a broader pattern of delay.
With the Supreme Court dismissing the state’s appeal, the High Court’s directives remain in force.
The judiciary has emphasised that the Metro project must proceed without further obstruction and within a fixed timeline.
The Orange Line currently operates between New Garia and Beleghata, and the pending stretch is vital for extending connectivity to Sector V via Chingrighata, a major commercial hub in Kolkata.
