Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the three new stretches of the Kolkata Metro: Green, Orange, and Yellow lines, making travel across the city faster and more seamless. The expanded network,
which was launched shortly before Durga Puja, would increase connectivity to the airport and IT corridor.
The Kolkata Metro is the first and oldest operational rapid transit system in India, beginning commercial service on October 24, 1984.
Kolkata Metro Green, Yellow And Orange Line Services:
The new extensions include the Green Line’s Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V segment (16.6 km), the Orange Line’s Hemanta Mukopadhyay to Kavi Subhash section (4.39 km) and the Yellow Line’s first service from Naopara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (6.77 km).
According to a PIB Release, the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Yellow) metro service will significantly improve access to the airport. The Sealdah–Esplanade (Green) metro will reduce the travel time between the two points from nearly 40 minutes to only 11 minutes. The Kavi Subhash–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Orange) metro section will play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity with the IT hub.
“These metro routes will connect some of Kolkata’s busiest areas, bring a notable reduction in travel time, and strengthen multimodal connectivity, benefiting lakhs of daily commuters,” the PIB release reads.
Kolkata Metro: Green Line Timings (Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V)
According to Metro Railway, Kolkata, from 22 August, 186 services will operate from Monday to Saturday on the Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V segment of the Green Line. This includes 93 trains per direction, with services running at 8-minute intervals.
The first train will depart Howrah Maidan at 06:30 a.m., and Salt Lake Sector V at 06:32 a.m. The last train leaves Howrah Maidan at 9:45 p.m. and Salt Lake Sector V at 9:47 p.m.
However, on Sundays, the service will be a bit low with just 104 trains running on this line; 52 in each direction with 15-minute intervals.
The first train on Sundays will leave Howrah Maidan at 06:30 a.m. and Salt Lake Sector V at 06:32 a.m. The last train departs Howrah Maidan at 9:45 p.m., and Salt Lake Sector V at 9:47 p.m.
To note, this section marks India’s first under-water river metro and is expected to travel a 520-meter segment beneath the Hooghly River in just 45 seconds.
Kolkata Metro: Orange Line Timings (Kavi Subhash–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay)
The Orange Line will operate between Kavi Subhash and Beleghata beginning on August 25. From Monday to Friday, 74 services will run daily, with 37 trains going in each direction, as per Metro Railway, Kolkata. The services will be offered every 20 minutes. The first trains will leave Kavi Subhash and Beleghata at 8:00 a.m. The last trains will leave both stations at 08:00 p.m.
This line will not be operational on Saturdays and Sundays.
Kolkata Metro: Yellow Line Timing (Naopara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar)
The Yellow Line, on the other hand, will reportedly begin operation on the Noapara-Jai Hind Bimanbandar segment from Monday to Friday. 120 services will be offered, with 60 trains in each direction and Trains will run at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes.
The first trains will depart from Noapara and Jai Hind Bimanbandar at 7:58 a.m. The last trains will depart from both ends at 8:00 p.m. Services will be unavailable on Saturdays and Sundays.