Kolkata Metro: Supreme Court pulls up Bengal govt for creating 'roadblocks', says 'don't politicise everything'

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the West Bengal government for "creating roadblocks" in the ongoing construction of a corridor of a Kolkata Metro rail project, reminding it that a developmental issue, which is beneficial for the common man, should not be politicised.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi declined to entertain the plea filed by the West Bengal government against the high court order of December 23, 2025.

Considering the matter, the bench said, "This merely exhibits the obstinate attitude of the authorities, wherein they want to delay and stall the Metro rail project in Kolkata. There was no infirmity in the order passed by the high court; we are sure that the project is completed in a time-bound manner."

Emphasising that there is no need to politicise everything, the court said, "This is a development issue."

The bench told the state's counsel, “This shows complete dereliction of your constitutional duty. You are running away from your responsibilities."

The court said it would not appreciate the state government politicising a developmental issue beneficial to the common man, by telling the state government, "Don't create roadblocks."

The court said that it is only pointing out that the high court has been very magnanimous to the state government.

"This was a fit case where your chief secretary, Director General of Police and other authorities should have been subjected to some action," the bench said.

State's counsel contended the state was under the model code of conduct for the upcoming elections, and that board examinations were underway.

Referring to the high court order, the bench asked, "What prevented the state government from complying with the directions since then?"

The bench said the Election Commission cannot object to this development project, which has been ongoing and is being monitored by the high court.

“For you, festivals are more important than development. It is not that you are willing, you are duty-bound," the bench said.

The bench told the state counsel, "You told the high court that you have festivals to take care of. Is a festival more important than the construction of a transport artery?”

The bench made it clear that it does not appreciate a democratically elected government knocking on the door of the court and asking for this to be ignored.

"The Election Commission will not have a difficulty in allowing the project. This was a project launched before the commencement of the model code of conduct. We will not allow the state to use this as a bogey to stall development again," the bench said.

The state's counsel said the project cannot proceed as roads will be blocked for the construction, through which ambulances and emergency vehicles traverse.

The counsel sought time till May to comply with the directions of the high court.

However, the bench was not convinced by this contention and declined to grant the prayer and said it would dismiss the appeal filed by the state government against the December 23, 2025, order.

The bench asked the Calcutta High Court to monitor the project's construction.

On December 23, the high court expressed concern at the delay in the completion of the project connecting the IT hub of of Sector V in Salt Lake with vast areas in south Kolkata, due to an impasse over roadblock permission by the police, and directed that the work has be completed by February 15, 2026.