The slow-paced land purchase process is jeopardising the New Garia-Airport metro project. The New Garia station work is the worst affected. Out of the total 20,180 sq m land needed for the station hub, 13,941 sq m plot is yet to be obtained, creating cost overrun and massive time. A truncated Metro operation is scheduled to be commenced early next year from Kabi Subhas (New Garia) to Hemanta (Ruby). An officer of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the implementing agency for the project, told the media that they are running out of time to accomplish the work. After a long-drawn legal conflict, they acquired the land to construct the ramp connecting the station with the yard. A huge chunk of land is still required at the earliest to make it functional. The longest of the Metro alignments is likely to transform the way citizens travel to and from the airport and the southernmost end of the city. But the pandemic seems to have dealt a sharp setback to the project. The New Garia station hub is spread over Birzi, Balia and Garagacha area. So far, in Balia, no land has been procured out of the 4,483 sq m needed. Similarly, no land has been acquired out of the 2,178 sq m needed in Birzi. Only in Garagacha, 5,386 sq m of land could be obtained. New Garia station is a significant Metro hub where the New Garia-Airport alignment will join the existing New Garia-Dakshineswar Metro. Apart from this, New Garia station will have provision for its planned extension till Baruipur. Apart from the land barrier at the new station, the elevated corridor is faltering in the Dhapa area, where 669 sq m is required for the construction of the three piers (310-312). An official said that due to the Metro construction, residents of Kolkata have survived enough problems as these regions were often cut off from the carriageways. The faster it is made, the smoother the ride will be. Due to the pandemic, most of the offices were shut for a long time. Restrictions were imposed on public transport even after partial reopening. Hearing of land cases, verification, and plot ownership were impacted due to fear of landowners attending the proceedings in the office of the Competent Authority. An official said that though all offices, comprising the courts of Competent Authority and Appellate authority, were working with 25% attendance, with limited public transport from May 15, they requested the land procurement officer to expedite the proceedings. Image SourceAlso read: Construction of upper slab in Kolkata's Airport Metro station completed