The Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Kolkata and the wider Kolkata Metropolitan Region in West Bengal, India. Opening in 1984, it was the first operational rapid transit system in India, beside being the second busiest and fourth-longest metro network in India. As of March 2024, it has four operational lines: the 32.33 km (20.09 mi) Line 1 from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash, 13.9 km (8.6 mi) Line 2 from Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan, 7.75 km (4.82 mi) Line 3 from Joka to Majerhat and 5.4 km (3.4 mi) Line 6 from Kavi Subhash to Hemanta Mukherjee for a total of 59.38 km (36.90 mi). Two other lines are in various phases of construction and planning. The system has a mix of underground, at-grade and elevated stations using both broad-gauge and standard-gauge tracks. Trains operate between 06:55 and 22:30 IST and the fares range from ₹5 to ₹50.
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) is a Government of India enterprise formed in 2008. The agency was formed to oversee the implementing Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as East West Metro, connecting the twin cities Kolkata and Howrah. The metro rail route is partly underground including the part that will be under the river Ganges. The 16.6 km route has six station each in underground and elevated portions. The terminal stations are Salt Lake Sector V and the Howrah Maidan. The elevated stretch started operations on 13 February 2020.
Kavi Subhash is the at-grade southern terminus and interchange metro station of the North-South corridor and Bypass Corridor of Kolkata Metro in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is named after poet Subhash Mukhopadhyay. This station was opened to public on the auspicious day of Mahalaya in 2010.
Netaji is an elevated metro station on the North-South corridor of the Blue Line of Kolkata Metro in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. This station is situated opposite to the Kudghat bus stand at Kudghat, in Tollygunge.
Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as the East-West Metro and Green Line, is a rapid transit line of the Kolkata Metro in the Indian state of West Bengal. It currently consists of two operational sections between Salt Lake and Sealdah, and Esplanade and Howrah Maidan by going underneath the Hooghly River, with an eastern extension planned for Teghoria. It will cover a distance of 32.11 km (19.95 mi) and consist of 17 stations from Teghoria (Haldiram) in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west, of which it will consist of 11 elevated and 6 underground stations, and the operational section consists of 6 elevated and 5 underground stations, with a total distance of 22 km (14 mi). It is expected to derive a very high ridership, since it will connect India's two largest commuter railway and long-distance railway terminals, Howrah and Sealdah, along with two of its largest business districts, BBD Bagh and Salt Lake Sector V. At present, more than 100,000 passengers commute through the line every day, and this figure is expected to go up to 1 million after it gets fully completed by 2035. It will also connect the industrial hub of Kolkata, i.e., Howrah and the IT hub of Kolkata, i.e., Salt Lake Sector-V. It connects Line 1 at Esplanade and will eventually connect Lines 3 and 6.
Noapara is the largest elevated metro station on the North-South corridor of the Blue Line of Kolkata Metro in Noapara, Baranagar, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It opened on 10 July 2013.
Kolkata Metro Line 3 or the Purple Line is a line of the Kolkata Metro. The 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) stretch from Joka to Taratala of the 15.08 kilometres (9.37 mi) line was inaugurated on 30 December 2022 before being extended to Majerhat on 6 March 2024. The route will span 15.08 kilometres (9.37 mi) from Joka in the south, to Esplanade in the north with a future extension of 3.39 kilometres (2.11 mi) to Diamond Park from Joka. It will connect Kolkata Metro Line 1 at Park Street in central Kolkata and run in parallel up to Esplanade in central Kolkata where it will connect Kolkata Metro Line 2 also. Line 3 is being built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
Kolkata Metro Line 6 or the Orange Line of the Kolkata Metro, in the Indian state of West Bengal, is a rapid transit line that will connect New Garia with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport via two satellite towns Salt Lake and New Town. It currently operates between Kavi Subhash and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. This stretch will be one of the most important stretches of the metro because it will connect the southern and the eastern parts of the city with Kolkata Airport. The total distance of this route will be 29.87 km (18.56 mi).
Satyajit Ray is a metro station of the Kolkata Metro Line 6 in Chak Garia, E.M. Bypass, Kolkata, India. The station is named in honour of the great Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray. The elevated structure is located above the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass with the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and the Baghajatin Peerless Hospital on the eastern side and the Hiland Park condominium on the western side. This metro station would serve the neighbourhoods of Baghajatin, Chak Garia, Survey Park and Santoshpur of South Kolkata.
Howrah Maidan Metro Station is a station of the Kolkata Metro Line 2 in Howrah Maidan, Howrah, India. The underground station is located near the Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium and the Howrah Sarat Sadan. It is the terminus of Line 2 of the Kolkata Metro. The station was completed and inaugurated on 6th March 2024. Though being similar to any Line 1 underground station, it is made with world class amenities and patronage to football, the main sport of the state.
Mahakaran, is a metro station on Line 2 of Kolkata Metro, located in B.B.D. Bagh. There are many British heritage buildings near the station with the Lal Dighi adjoining it. The tracks leaving the station towards Howrah go underneath the Hooghly river through the biggest underwater metro tunnel of India. The station was completed and opened on 6 March 2024. The station, though comparing without platform screen doors, my look similar to any Line-1 underground station, but it is actually very different as it is designed with world class facilities and murals that pay tribute to the locality and Indian freedom fighters. The nearest railway station is B.B.D. Bagh railway station. Just before the tunnel enters the underwater segment, lies a ventilation shaft on the Kolkata bank of Hooghly River, which is the deepest of its kind in India, at 44 metres (144 ft) below ground level.
Howrah metro station is a metro station of Kolkata Metro Line 2 in Howrah, India. Built underneath Howrah railway station's new and old complex, the metro station allows interchanging with other zones of Indian Railways as part of the Howrah station transport hub. It is the deepest metro station in India. To the east, the station connects to Mahakaran station in Kolkata through India's biggest under-river metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly river; whilst to the west the adjacent station is Howrah Maidan.
East West Metro Tunnel is a underwater river tunnel of Kolkata Metro in Kolkata, West Bengal. The river tunnel is constructed underneath Hooghly River. It is the biggest underwater river tunnel of India, which is made for metro rail service. The East West Metro Tunnel length is 10.8 km (6.7 mi) and width is 5.5 metres. A 520 m stretch of the tracks goes through a tunnel under the Hooghly River. The roof of the tunnel is about 30 metres from the ground level. The tunnel was completed in 2021. The tunnel is used by East West Metro Line for metro rail service by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation and it was constructed by Afcons Infrastructure.
Majerhat metro station is an operational metro station on Line 3 of Kolkata Metro. It is the terminal station of the first phase 1 of this line and the first and only station built over an existing railway network, from Joka to Majerhat. The line was sanctioned in India's railway budget of 2010–11, but due to various hurdles, construction was delayed and missed multiple deadlines. The most notable reason for delays was the Majerhat Bridge collapse in 2018.
Dum Dum Cantonment is an elevated metro station of line 4 of Kolkata Metro. It is situated just beside the Dum Dum Cantonment railway station. This station was proposed in Line 4, in the budget of 2010–11. It is also the part of the integration of old line of Circular Railway from Dum Dum Cantonment to Jai Hind.
Jyotirindra Nandi is a metro station of Line 6 of the Kolkata Metro. The station serves Mukundapur, Santoshpur and Ajoy Nagar areas outlying the E.M. Bypass section of the city.
Kavi Sukanta is a station of Line 6 of the Kolkata Metro in Kalikapur, a southern neighbourhood of Kolkata, India, serving the areas of Kalikapur, Haltu, Prince Anwar Shah Road and Nandi Bagan. The station is named in honour of the revolutionary Bengali poet Sukanta Bhattacharya.
Hemanta Mukhopadhyay is a Metro station of Line 6 of the Kolkata Metro at Ruby Crossing, serving the areas of E.M. Bypass, Kasba and Anandapur. The station is named in honour of the Indian Bengali playback singer Hemanta Mukhopadhyay.
VIP Bazar is a station of Line 6 of the Kolkata Metro located in the Tagore Park area of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving Tiljala and VIP Nagar areas. The station is named after the nearby market called, VIP Bazar. The station is elevated above the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. VIP Nagar and VIP Bazar are located next to the station.
Metro rake flagged off from Esplanade metro station
Interior of Metro Rack at Esplanade metro station
Esplanade metro station platform
Esplanade metro signage
Esplanade metro construction gate
Esplanade metro station
Weighing Match at Esplanade
Concourse Area
Artists Conception of East west metro at Esplanade
Train enters Esplanade
