Kolkata Metro is the oldest operating metro system in India. It was first conceptualized in the 1920s. Kolkata Metro is a rapid transport system serving the city since. In February 2021, Kolkata Metro had two lines in operation: Dakshineshwar towards Kavi Subhash and Salt Lake Sector 5 to Phool Bagan. A combination of underground, elevated Metro stations at grade Kolkata Metro operates on standard gauge and broad gauge tracks.Let’s take a tour on Kolkata Metro: Route, Map, Timings, Fare, and Updates.
While this Kolkata metro network has been operating for a long time, the expansion rate is prolonged. The second line was only made operational in 2021. There are currently four lines that are under various stages of construction.
Kolkata Metro is operated and owned jointly by Metro Railway, Kolkata, and Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC). It is interesting to note that the Metro Railway, Kolkata, was declared the 17th area by the Indian Railways. This way, Kolkata Metro has become the sole Metro system of India under the control of Indian Railways.
Kolkata Metro: Latest Update
The passengers of the Kolkata metro will soon be able to choose to undergo blood tests at the metro railway stations between Kavi Shubhas and Dakshineswar. Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRC) has announced that it will be launching diagnostic centers within the metropolis. “Diagnostic and collection centers are going to be set up in unutilized spaces in the Metro premises. Various reputed diagnostic centers of the city have already shown interest in setting up such units at Metro stations,” the official stated in a statement.
Kolkata Metro Route Map
The official route map of the Kolkata Metro is shown below –
Kolkata Metro Fare
According to the distance traveled, Kolkata Metro charges according to distance. Due to the fact that two lines are currently operational, commuters are subject to the following charges.
| Zone | Distance Covered | Fare in Rs |
| Zone-I | Up to 2 KM | Rs 5 |
| Zone-II | Between 2 KM to 5 KM | Rs 10 |
| Zone-III | Between 5 KM to 10 KM | Rs 15 |
| Zone-IV | Between 10 KM to 20 KM | Rs 20 |
| Zone-V | Above 20 KM | Rs 25 |
For the East-West corridor, the following charges are applicable
| Distance Travelled | The fare in Rs. |
| 0 to 2 Km | Rs 5 |
| 2 to 5 Km | Rs 10 |
| 5 to 10 Km | Rs 20 |
| 10 to 16.5 Km | Rs 30 |
Smart cards can also be used instead of the Journey token, saving commuters time and allowing them to recharge their cards with some additional credit.
Kolkata Metro: Token and Smart Card Rules
Token
- A token is valid for one journey.
- It is in effect until the day of purchase. It is required for the buyer to access the area where they paid within 45 minutes of the time of purchase. The token is unenforceable if the purchaser does not enter the area within the 45-minute timeframe.
- The token will not be replaced if the user cannot use their token.
- The token is retrieved at the exit gate after the completion of the journey.
- If a customer cannot pay the token at the exit point, A penalty of 250 rupees will be. Two hundred fifty will be imposed.
Smart Card
- First-time users can buy the smart card for Rs.100/200/300/500 and 1000. It includes an amount for Security Deposit of Rs. 60.
- Customers can recharge their smart card at Rs.100/200/300/500 and 1000. The smart card has a maximum amount of Rs.5000.
- A passenger must have an amount of at least Rs. 25 to access the gate.
- The smart card will be locked when someone cannot tap it on the exit gate or takes the wrong exit. The counter for booking in the Kolkata Metro station then deducts up to 25 rupees from the card each time it is presented during your next trip. After that, the card is deactivated.
Kolkata Metro Card Online Recharge
Good news for Kolkata metro commuters! You can now refill the balance on your Kolkata metro card on the internet. All you need to do is go to the Metro Railway Kolkata website at http://mtp.indianrailways.gov.in/ and click on Online Recharge. You will need to input the Kolkata credit card number. Then, input the amount and then click Pay. In the last step, choose your preferred method of payment, either credit or debit card Net banking, Paytm, Net Banking Gray, and more. After completing the transaction, you will have your credit card available.
If you are a SBI user, then you can recharge your card using SBI YONO mobile app and SBI net banking portal.
Kolkata Metro Timings
Kolkata Metro services start at 7:00 am and run until 22:30 pm. The state government altered the timings of the metro during the Covid-19 epidemic. A train is stopped for 10-20 seconds at each station; therefore, there could be a slight variance in the timings of the initial train that arrives every morning.
Let’s look at some of the Kolkata Metro routes in greater depth.
Kolkata Metro: Durga Puja Services
Kolkata metro runs special night-long services during Durga Puja. The metro service starts at 12:30 in the afternoon and run until 4:00 am the following day. The metro runs according to the scheduled schedule. This makes it easier for commuters to get around throughout Durga Puja.
Kolkata Metro Mobile Application
Kolkata Metro is now available for download from the Playstore. The app provides various details about the Kolkata metro. The app is available for download. The app lets you find out the cost of the fare, locate your closest station, recharge smartcards, track train schedules, and many more. On Kolkata Metro App, you can find the number for help in an emergency.
Kolkata Metro: Routes and Metro Stations
The idea of the Kolkata metro was proposed in the 1920s. However, the actual construction began in the year 1970. Kolkata metro is divided into two categories.
- Operational Lines
- Under-construction Lines
As of now, at present, the Kolkata metro is home to two lines that are fully operational and four lines under construction.
Kolkata Metro: Operational Metro Lines
There are two Metro lines in service, the Blue Line or Line 1 from Dakshineshwar to Kavi Subhash, and the Green Line 2 from Salt Lake Sector 5 to Phool Bagan are operational.
Kolkata Metro: Blue Line 1 from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash
The line is commonly referred to in the popular press as the North-South Metro Line. Line 1 of the Kolkata Metro is the first operating line of the Kolkata Metro. It covers a total of 31 kilometers. The Blue Line is spread over three districts in West Bengal viz North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, and South 24 Pargana districts of West Bengal. The Blue Line connects the Dakshineshwar region to the Kavi Subhash metro station. Kavi Subhash station was earlier called New Garia Metro Station. From the station’s Blue Line covers, 15 are underground, 9 are elevated, and 2 are at grade.
The Blue Line of Kolkata passes through the following stations.
| Dakshineshwar | Baranagar | Noapara | Dum Dum | Belgachhia | ShyamBazar | Shibhabazar Sutanuti | Girish Park | Mahatma Gandhi Road | Central (Baubazar) | Chandni Chowk | Esplanade | Park Street |
| Maidan | Rabindra Sadan | Netaji Bhavan | Jatin das Park | Kali Ghat | Rabindra Sarobar | Mahanayak Uttam Kumar | Netaji | Masterda Suryasen | Gitanjali | Kavi Nazrul | Shahid Khudiram | Kavi Subhash |
Kolkata Metro: Green Line 2 from Salt Lake Sector 5 to Phoolbagan
Because of its alignment due to its alignment, the Green Line of Kolkata Metro is sometimes referred to as the metro line East-West. This is the most current operating route of the Kolkata metro. The metro line green was inaugurated to the public in October 2020.
The Green Line of Kolkata Metro connects the Salt Lake Sector 5 region with the Phoolbagan region. The planned extension of the Greenline will link Teghoria to Howrah. The metro route is designed to include an underwater section beneath the Hooghly River.
At present, the following stations are operational.
| Salt Lake Sector 5 | Karunamoyee | Central Park | City Centre | Bengal Chemical | IFA Salt Lake Stadium | Phoolbagan |
Once operational, the total length of the entire route will be 22 Km.
Kolkata Metro: Under-construction Metro Lines
Alongside the operating Green Line and Blue Line, The following lines are currently in various states of development. When the network is operational, it will eventually connect to the whole of Kolkata city. The under-construction lines could be described as follows:
| Metro Line no. | Colour Code | Year and To run From | Number of Stations | Length in KM | Alignment | Planned Terminals | Executed by | Other Names | |
| 3 | Purple Line | 2024 (Joka to Majerhat) | 14 | 16.2 | Southwestern | Diamond Park | Esplanade | Rail Vikas Nigam Limited | Also called Joka metro |
| 4 | Yellow Line | 2023 (Noapara to Biman Bandar) | 10 | 16.8 | Northeastern | Noapara | Barasat | Metro Railway, Kolkata | Also known as Barasat metro |
| 5 | Pink Line | 11 | 12.4 | Northern | Baranagar | Barrackpore | Rail Vikas Nigam Limited | Also known as Barrackpore metro | |
| 6 | Orange Line | 2024 (Kavi Subhash to Salt Lake Sector V) | 24 | 29.8 | North–South via Eastern | Kavi Subhash | Biman Bandar | Rail Vikas Nigam Limited | Also called as Airport metro |
Kolkata Metro Extension: Purple Line 3 from Joka to Majerhat
Line 3 of the Kolkata metro, also known as the Purple Line, is an under-construction metro line. When it is completed, it is expected that the Purple line of the Kolkata Metro will connect Joka in the South and Esplanade in the North. It will connect Kolkata metro line 1 to Park Street when the construction is completed. Its Green Line metro will run parallel to Esplanade and join Kolkata Metro Line 2.
The following stations will be covered under Purple Line 3.
| Diamond Park (Joka) | IIM Kolkata | Joka | Thakurpur | Sakherbazar | Behala Chowrasta | Taratala |
| Behala Bazar | Majerhat | Mominpur | Kidderpore | Victoria | Park Street | Esplanade |
Purple Line 3 will be developed in three phases.
- Joka to Majerhat (Under-construction)
- Esplanade (North) to Majerhat (After Phase 1)
- Joka to Diamond Park (South) (After Phase 2)
The Green Line extension will be partially elevated and partially underground.
Kolkata Metro Extension: Yellow Line 4 from Noapara to Barasat (North 24 Parganas)
Kolkata Metro Line 4 extension is being implemented in collaboration with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. When completed, this yellow line is expected to link the Noapara with the Barasat area within the North 24 Pargana district of West Bengal. It will be an underground stretch and a partially elevated section. Yellow Line 4 will provide an interchange station at NSCBI Airport and connect Metro Line 6 (Presently Under-construction).
Yellow Line 4 will have a total of 10 metro stations viz-
| Noapara | Dum Dum Cantt | Jessore Road | Biman Bandar | Birati |
| Michael Nagar | New Barrackpore | Madhyamgram | Hridaypur | Barasat |
In addition to the above-mentioned stations, Noapara is already a working station on Line 1. Yellow Line 4 will reach a total length of more than 18 kilometers once completed.
Kolkata Metro Extension: Pink Line 5 from Baranagar to Barackpore
Pink Line 5 of the Kolkata Metro is a planned metro line. The construction of the metro line hasn’t begun. The line is expected to offer a seamless connection from North Kolkata to mainland Kolkata.
Pink Line 5 of Kolkata will include a total of 11 stations. Out of the 11 stations, Baranagar station is already operational on Blue Line 1.
| Baranagar | Kamarhati | Agarpara | Panihati | Sodepur | Subhash Nagar |
| Khardaha | Tata Gate | Titagarh | Talpukur | Barrackpore |
The above-mentioned metro stations on Pink Line 5 are all planned except Baranagar, which is an existing station on Line 1. There are also plans to realign the route along the Kalyani Expressway by the State government.
Kolkata Metro Extension: Orange Line 6 from New Garia to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBIA)
Orange Line 6 of the Kolkata Metro will connect New Garia’s well-known areas with the International Airport of Kolkata (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport). In addition, this Orange line will run through two satellite towns, Salt Lake and New Town.
The Orange Line is scheduled to be operational in 2023. Orange Line will connect the Kavi Subash station with Salt Lake Sector 5.
Orange Line 6 extension of Kolkata metro will consist of 24 metro stations, namely,
| Biman Bandar | VIP Road/Haldiram | Chinar Park | City Centre 2 | Mangal Deep | Eco Park | Mothers Wax Museum | Shiksha Tirtha |
| Biswa Bangla Convention Centre | Swapno Bhor | Nazrul Tirtha | Nabadiganta | Salt Lake Sector 5 | Nalban | Gour Kishore Ghosh | Beliaghata |
| Barun Sengupta | Ritwik Ghatak | VIP Bazaar | Hemanta Mukharjee | Kavi Sukanta | Jyotindranath Nandi | Satyajit Ray | Kavi Subhash (Operational) |
The significance of this line can be seen by the fact that it will link the southern and eastern regions of Kolkata with the International Airport. The names of the metro stations along the Orange Line will be named in the style of famous figures from West Bengal. It will feature Metro stations elevated to 23 levels, an underground station, and an at-grade station. This Orange Line will have interchange stations with the Green Line at VIP Road/Haldiram and Salt Lake Sector 5.
Tourist Attractions Near Kolkata Metro Stations
Find below a few major tourist attractions located near Kolkata Metro stations.
| Tourist Attractions | Nearest Metro Station | Distance from Metro Station |
| M P Birla Planetarium | Maidan | 0.6 Km |
| Victoria Memorial | Rabindra Sadan | 1 Km |
| Rabindra Sarobar | Rabindra Sarobar | 1.8 Km |
| Fort William | Maidan | 3.9 Km |
| Kalighat Mandir | Kalighat | 0.9 Km |
| Marble Palace | MG Road | 0.4 Km |
| Netaji Bhavan | Rabindra Sadan | 0.8 Km |
| Royal Kolkata Golf Club | Mahanayak Uttam Nagar | 2.6 Km |
| St Paul’s Cathedral | Rabindra Sadan | 0.8 Km |
| Shaheed Minar | Esplanade | 0.8 Km |
| Indian Museum | Park Street | 0.4 Km |
| Eden Gardens | Esplanade | 1 Km |
Interesting Facts About Kolkata Metro
Let’s take an overview of some fascinating details regarding the Kolkata metro:
- It is the longest-running metropolis in India.
- It offers the lowest cost of travel in the world.
- 10 metro stations have been named after famous Bengali people
- Kolkata metro transports over 55,000 people every day.
- Kolkata metro will get the world’s first metro railway tunnel. The cost of the tunnel is estimated to be around 8,600 crores. The project will be completed by 2023.
Kolkata Metro: Contact Information
In case of any query or any further information you can contact on the following address or phone number:-
Office Address: Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, HRBC Complex, KMRCL Bhawan, 2nd & 3rd Floor, Munsi Premchand Sarani, Kolkata – 700021
Phone number: 66071117
Email address: gm.admin@kmrc.in
It would not be overstating to call Kolkata Metro the lifeline for Kolkata. Because Kolkata Metro has been in operation for a long time, Kolkata Metro has been in operation for quite a while. It has helped ease the burden of commuting for residents considerably.
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