Kolkata Metro’s long-delayed Pink Line has won a crucial civic clearance that removes a major obstacle related to water supply pipelines beneath the Barrackpore Trunk Road. The 12.5-kilometre elevated corridor from Baranagar to Barrackpore is expected to cut travel time by 30 minutes and to ease congestion on the busy route. The clearance paves the way for construction to advance after years of delay. Kolkata Municipal Corporation Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey issued a no-objection certificate to permit the temporary closure of a 48-inch water transmission line along the trunk road, officials said. The road runs above six critical pipelines ranging from 42 to 72 inches in diameter, and managing these utilities had been the primary hurdle since the scheme was sanctioned in 2009. The KMC also approved building a new 72-inch pipeline from the Indira Gandhi Water Treatment Plant in Palta to the Talla Pumping Station to safeguard potable water supply. The metro authority has floated a Rs 15.873 billion (bn) tender covering the elevated viaduct and ten stations, signalling renewed momentum for the project. The elevated Pink Line, or Line 5, will link with Line 1 at Baranagar, where the southern terminal is already operational as part of the Blue Line and will act as the main interchange for passengers heading to central Kolkata. Running along the trunk road, the line is intended to provide a rapid transit alternative and to reduce dependence on crowded Eastern Railway local trains. There are 11 planned elevated stations from Baranagar to Barrackpore, including Kamarhati, Agarpara, Panihati, Sodepur, Subhash Nagar, Khardaha, Tata Gate, Titagarh and Talpukur. Residents welcomed the prospect of a direct metro link to the city centre and anticipated relief for school travel and daily commutes. Officials said the project gained pace after coordinated talks between the West Bengal government, central agencies and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, and the Chief Minister characterised the approvals as an example of focused administrative determination that pairs transit expansion with civic safeguards. Work is expected to proceed in phases as approvals and contracts are finalised.