Pm Modi To Inaugurate East-West Metro, Orange Line Extensions On April 24.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate two key metro stretches in Kolkata on April 24 — the final 2.6-kilometre leg of the East-West Metro between Esplanade and Sealdah, and a 4.5-kilometre section of the Orange Line from Ruby to Metropolitan, connecting Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Beleghata stations, sources said on Thursday.

While no official confirmation has been issued yet, sources revealed that a communication from the railway ministry reached senior officials in Kolkata on Thursday morning, triggering a series of urgent internal meetings.

“It’s still unclear whether the PM will inaugurate the projects virtually or in person,” a source said, adding that the event may also include the launch of refurbished railway stations in West Bengal under the Amrit Bharat scheme.

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), which is overseeing the East-West Metro project, is working against the clock to wrap up final civil construction on the 16.6-kilometre corridor from Sector V to Howrah Maidan.

The 2.6-km Esplanade-Sealdah stretch, part of Phase III of the project, recently underwent inspection by French agency Certifer, the Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) that certifies metro systems globally. Metro authorities are now urging the agency to expedite the safety clearance.

Officials added that the mandatory fire and safety inspection by the state fire and emergency services department is scheduled for next week, to be followed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) inspection. The CRS will rely on the ISA’s report and trial documentation submitted by KMRC since January.