Sushil Mohta on Why Kolkata is the Next Big real estate Hotspot: From Saturated Metros to the City of Joy

Sushil Mohta, Chairman of Merlin Group, analyzes the critical infrastructure developments and driving forces shaping Kolkata’s real estate evolution.

Why Kolkata now

West Bengal, and Kolkata in particular, is at an inflection point. The state combines a large consumption base, a skilled workforce, and strategic connectivity to the Northeast and neighbouring countries with an under-leveraged real estate market relative to other metros.

Kolkata’s housing market is in its most transformative phase, with annual launches nearly doubling from 9,194 units in 2021 to a record 17,164 in 2025, and sales climbing from 7,183 to 14,195 over the same period.

The East submarket now drives nearly a third of launches and sales, underlining how new infrastructure is redrawing demand geography. With the proposed abolition of the Urban Land Ceiling Act following the 2026 regime change, land availability is expected to improve further, unlocking new development opportunities.

“Kolkata is officially at the cusp of a historic real estate renaissance. After years of quiet preparation, the convergence of game-changing metro lines, structural land reforms, and a surging demand for premium spaces has created a perfect storm and things are about to get exponentially better for the city.” Feels Sushil Mohta.

Connectivity is the new real-estate mapmaker

Connectivity acts as the primary driver for real estate appreciation, with metro expansions and transit corridors shaping the city’s growth axis toward the East and North. The 32-km Orange Line (New Garia–Airport) is targeting full operationalisation by December 2026 to strengthen micro-markets along the EM Bypass, Salt Lake, New Town, Rajarhat, and Sector V, while the Purple Line (Joka–Esplanade) is expected to reform South-West to Central Kolkata connectivity around 2028–29.

Furthermore, the Yellow Line’s airport station opened in August 2025 with onward stretches planned through late 2026, and civil tendering for the Pink Line (Baranagar–Barrackpore) positions northern localities as early beneficiaries of improved transit.

In addition to above, The Rajarhat–New Town corridor and EM Bypass extension lead as the city’s most active peripheral growth zones, experiencing high premium demand and a projected value re-rating ahead of the December 2026 Orange Line metro operationalisation deadline.

Concurrently, the Diamond Harbour Road axis is transforming into a lifestyle-driven residential belt defined by large-parcel, township-scale, and resort-led developments. In the North Kolkata periphery, preparatory land-acquisition steps across nine mouzas in Nadia for the proposed 2,000-acre Kalyani greenfield airport are laying the groundwork for rapid satellite-township expansion.

Sushil Mohta believes, “For years, Kolkata’s real estate potential was the industry’s best-kept secret. But with massive infrastructure breakthroughs, expected key policy reforms, and an undeniable shift in market momentum, the wait is officially over! The city is no longer just playing catch-up; it is ready to lead the national race.

What this means for investors and occupiers

Kolkata is poised to join India’s real-estate race as infrastructure finally catches up with its fundamentals. Residential demand is shifting toward larger, better-planned homes with lifestyle amenities in the East and South corridors, underpinned by metro operationalisation and township-scale supply.

With faster approvals, clearer titles, and a genuinely investor-friendly regulatory environment, Kolkata can move from potential to performance and take its place alongside India’s leading real estate destinations.

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