Motorists get free passage at Chinar Park after 3 yrs
Times of India | 2 December 2025
Kolkata: After three years, RVNL has freed 180m of Biswa Bangla Sarani (New Town thoroughfare) as most of the slab for the concourse (first level) of the Orange Line's Chinar Park station was cast. Vehicles are now moving in both directions without any hindrances or barricading. Work to build the platform, above the concourse level, is about to start.
The Orange Line, which is facing a hurdle to cross the last 366 m viaduct at Chingrighata crossing, also missed deadlines in the construction of the last 3.5 km from City Centre II in New Town to the Airport. While Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd is the implementing agency, Afcons Infrastructure is contracted to build the Rs 533 crore segment of the Orange Line, which will link 32 km from New Garia to the Airport. According to the contract, Afcons was supposed to complete the work, which includes two stations – Chinar Park and VIP Road – and the last 900m underground tunnelling to the airport by Jan 31, 2024.
A year behind schedule, only a part of the two station structures was completed. However, girder-launching or slab casting for the concourse or the first level of the Chinar Park station made all the difference to motorists, who are now free to move up and down below the under-construction Chinar Park station. The barricading, in place for three years, has now been removed.
Construction of the Orange Line's Chinar Park station in New Town was particularly challenging for the agencies. Cops were reluctant to hand over the site at one go because of the huge traffic load in the Chinar Park area. Work atop the New Town artery was thus split into phases, prolonging the station construction and the barricading on the road.
On top of this was the problem of encroachment that came in the way of the Chinar Park station construction. TOI, in a report titled "RVNL change Orange Line stn design as eateries encroach upon pavement" on Sept 14, 2024, revealed a pavement encroachment that forced the authorities to change the Orange Line's second last station's design and construction scheme. The pavement space, usurped by at least four restaurants for their outdoor facilities, prevented RVNL from creating alternate space for traffic movement.