Tunnel boring machine (TBM) 'Durga' successfully completed the 1.6-km underground breakthrough at the under-construction Victoria Memorial metro station, marking the completion of the first of two Joka-Esplanade Purple Line tunnels.

The boring, which commenced a year ago, was executed without disrupting surface traffic, while the second TBM, 'Divya', is scheduled for breakthrough in August 2026. Once fully completed, the 15.1-km corridor will connect Joka to Esplanade in the heart of Kolkata.

Kolkata Metro is set to induct 14 next-generation rakes during the financial year 2026-27 (FY27) to boost passenger capacity and reduce headway. Manufactured by Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the new rakes will feature three-phase AC motors and automatic sliding doors.

This is part of a larger plan to induct 60 new-generation rakes over the next four to five years to modernize the oldest metro network in the country.

Tunnelling work for the 1.7 km Kidderpore–Victoria underground section of the Joka–Esplanade corridor (Purple Line) has entered its final phase. Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Durga has completed 95% of its tunnel (1.65 km) with a breakthrough expected in early July 2026, while TBM Divya has finished 75% (1.27 km) with a breakthrough slated for August 2026.

However, construction at the Esplanade station remains stalled due to pending relocation of traders from the BC Roy Market.

The Ministry of Railways initiated the land acquisition process for the 1.7 km extension of the Kolkata Metro Purple Line from Joka to Diamond Park via IIM-Calcutta. A notification was issued to acquire 5,871 square meters of private land across moujas including Sarmasterchak, Hanspukuria, and Joka.

This coincides with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) floating a ₹378 crore tender to construct the elevated viaduct and a station at IIM-Calcutta with provisions for future connectivity to Diamond Park.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that 60 next-generation trains will be introduced to the Kolkata Metro network over the next five years to revamp urban mobility and expand the network's capacity.

Additionally, he mentioned that proposed high-speed bullet train corridors connecting Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–Siliguri aim to sharply reduce travel time, linking Siliguri with New Delhi in just six hours.

The Metro Railway has proposed a new 8.8-km metro corridor linking Eastern Railway's Kolkata station (Chitpur) with Salt Lake's Karunamoyee. A feasibility study and ground survey have been initiated for the route, which is expected to pass via Khudiram Bose Road and the Bagjola Canal.

The proposal comes ahead of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's visit to discuss key railway projects with CM Suvendu Adhikari.

In significant advancements for the Orange Line metro corridor, construction has commenced on a new 175-meter traffic diversion road at the Haldiram crossing on VIP Road, while Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) received police clearance for a 45-day traffic block on the EM Bypass starting June 1, 2026.

The new diversion road near Chinar Park is designed to allow the construction of the final two complex portal piers (P816 and P817) and is scheduled for completion by June 2026.

On the EM Bypass, the traffic curbs will enable the construction of a long-pending foot overbridge (FOB) to connect both sides of the Beleghata metro station, providing safe commuter access.

In a major breakthrough to revive the long-stalled 12.5-km Baranagar–Barrackpore Metro corridor (Pink Line), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) met with Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials on May 25, 2026, to address critical utility conflicts.

The landmark meeting focused on shifting five vital underground water transmission pipelines along BT Road that have blocked construction for nearly 16 years.

While both agencies have presented concrete plans to relocate the water lines without disrupting the city's water supply, further technical reviews are scheduled to finalize the alignment and begin pier construction.

Metro Railway successfully completed the long-pending girder launching work at the busy Chingrighata crossing ahead of schedule at 5:00 AM on May 25, 2026, allowing normal traffic movement along the EM Bypass to resume earlier than planned.

The construction of the 366-meter viaduct segment, which had been stalled for over a year due to lack of administrative and police permissions, was executed over two consecutive weekends with close coordination between Metro authorities and the state government.

While this bridges a critical viaduct gap on the New Garia–Airport corridor (Orange Line), final station work and other segments along the corridor remain in progress.

Bidhannagar Police granted Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) permission to proceed with critical elevated metro construction on VIP Road near Kaikhali. The work involves lifting a 500-tonne launcher to bridge a long-pending 120-meter viaduct gap near Haj House.

To minimize public disruption, construction will be carried out over a four-month period with nightly traffic diversions from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

Work on the long-pending Chingrighata section of the Orange Line officially resumed on May 15, 2026. Kolkata Police approved traffic regulations for construction to bridge a 366-meter gap in the elevated viaduct at the Chingrighata crossing, marking a significant step to expedite the New Garia–Airport corridor.