The Kolkata Metro's Purple Line is set to expand further southwards, as the Ministry of Railways has issued a land acquisition notice for its extension to Diamond Park via IIM-Calcutta. This 1.7 km stretch beyond the existing Joka terminus will bring the premier business school and surrounding areas under the metro network.
Gazette Notification for Land Acquisition
A gazette notification published on June 4, 2026, by the Ministry of Railways declares the intention to acquire private land in moujas such as Sarmasterchak, Hanspukuria, and Joka. The acquisition targets an area of 5,871 square meters to facilitate the construction of the Purple Line's Phase 1 extension from Joka to Diamond Park via IIM-Calcutta. The notification invokes powers under sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978, to acquire additional lands, buildings, streets, roads, passages, or rights of user or easement as specified in the schedule.
Project Details and Tender
Metro Railway has already floated a tender worth Rs 378 crore for the southward extension. According to bid documents, the work includes the construction of 44 pillars and a station, which must be completed within 30 months after land acquisition. The new addition will extend the Purple Line's total length to 18 km, from IIM-Joka-Diamond Park to Eden Gardens, with the latter being a 1.6 km extension from Esplanade station.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the implementing agency for the 14 km Joka-Esplanade corridor (Purple Line), has identified a site belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD) approximately 100 meters past the IIM-Calcutta campus on Diamond Harbour Road.
Integration with Metro Network
The Purple Line is poised to become a crucial link in Kolkata's metro network, connecting with the North-South (Blue Line) and East-West (Green Line) corridors at the Esplanade Metro hub. Even without the extensions, the Purple Line will play an integral role at Esplanade. However, the southern extension to IIM-Calcutta will significantly enhance connectivity for commuters, who currently can only use the 8 km stretch from Joka to Majerhat.
Once the extension is operational, travelers from the airport can take the Airport-Noapara line, switch to the Blue Line at Noapara, interchange at Esplanade, and board the Purple Line to reach IIM-Calcutta. This seamless connectivity is expected to benefit students, faculty, and residents in the southern suburbs.
Conclusion
The Purple Line extension marks a significant milestone for Kolkata Metro, bringing the network closer to educational institutions and residential areas. With land acquisition underway and tenders awarded, the project is on track to transform urban mobility in the city.
