Calcutta High Court Greenlights Joka-Esplanade Metro: Dismisses Environmental Concerns

The Calcutta High Court has dismissed a writ petition aiming to halt the Joka-Esplanade metro railway project over environmental concerns. The court approved Permitting Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) to proceed, stating that all necessary permissions for tree transplantation/felling had been obtained. This project promises vital connectivity for Kolkata’s southwestern suburbs.

In a significant move, the Calcutta High Court has dismissed a writ petition that sought to halt the ongoing Joka-Esplanade metro railway project over environmental concerns in Kolkata's Maidan area.

A division bench, headed by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, ruled that Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) may proceed with the work, emphasizing that requisite permissions for transplantation and felling of trees had been duly acquired.

The project, featuring a 16.7-km stretch including 5.05 km underground, is seen as a crucial link for Kolkata’s southwestern suburbs, promising to bring significant time savings for commuters once completed.