Kolkata Metro: Route, History, Timing, Fares, Updates

Kolkata Metro is the number one operational metro network in India. It was the first transit system introduced in 1984 when operations began in India. As of February 2021, the Kolkata Metro includes two operational lines covering a total length of around 38kms: via Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash and Salt Lake Sector 5 to Phool Began.

Some years ago, due to modern technology, the Metro railway station in Kolkata has experienced different improvements that have changed its whole history. The existence of Kolkata Metro over the years has called for expansion as, at present, four lines are in different phases of construction.

It has become the first city in India to acquire an underwater Metro tunnel built for developing movement in the city. The construction of Metro in Kolkata Lines 1 began in 1972. A small 3.40km section between Esplanade and Netaji Bhavan was opened in October 1984, making it the most popular and first Metro system in India.

Based on the station principle, the time for the East-West Metro is expected to be revised beginning Thursday. Presently, the operating hours have been changed from the last time which was 8 a.m to 8 p.m and now, a new operating hours timetable has been released which will enable the first train from Sealdah to exit at 6:55 a.m and allow the same train to leave from sector V at 7 a.m.

Kolkata Metro is owned and controlled by Metro Railway and Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC). Metro in Kolkata is the only metro system in India that’s controlled by the Indian railways.

Kolkata Metro Route

Some months back, the Kolkata Metro railway made arrangements on color code selection for various Metro corridors and the new Metro lines that have been extended. Below is the active Metro Route in Kolkata:

Metro Line 1 (Blue Line)

The Line 1 of Kolkata is also known as the North-South Metro Line. The new name for this Metro is Blue Line. It has coverage of 31.1 km with 26 stations, 15 underground stations, and 9 elevated. It covers about 32 kilometers of distance from Kavi to Dakshineswar as it’s the first underground railway with an underground construction that started in October 1984.

Length:	32.25 km
Type:	At-Grade, Elevated & underground
Total Stoppage:	26 stations
Station Names:	Noapara, Dum Dum, Belgachia, Dakshineswar, Baranagar, Shyambazar, Shobhabazar, MG Road, Shobhabazar Sutanuti, Girish Park, Central, Chandni Chowk, Netaji Bhavan, Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, Netaji, Masteda Surya Sen, Gitanjali, Kavi Nazrul, Shahid Khudiram, New Garia

Metro Line 2 (Green Line)

The Metro Line-2 Kolkata, known as East-West Metro Line, connects with Howrah to Hooghly River with an underground route. This Metro line has a 5.8kms elevated route and 10.8 Kms of underground section. But in light of the construction process several times, the length has been enlarged and completed at 16.55 km.

The twin cities under Kolkata and Howrah will be connected by an underwater tunnel built 33m below the Hooghly river. Apart from all these constructions, the second phase of the operation has been scheduled to be open from 2023.

Length:	7 km
Types:	Elevated and Underground
Total Stoppage	17 Stations
Station Names:	Teghoria, Raghunathpur, Baguiati, Dum Dum Park, Kestopur, Bandhan Bank Salt Lake Sector V, Karunamoyee, Central Park, LICI city Center, Bengal Chemical, IFA Salt Lake Stadium, Phoolbagan, Sealdah, Esplanade, New Mahakaran, Howrah, Howrah Maidan

Kolkata Metro Line 3 (Purple Line)

Metro line 3 in Kolkata is under construction. The route will begin from Joka Metro station in the south and connect Esplanade in the north, covering a total length of 15 Kms. The construction project will be carried out by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), located in India and owned by the Indian railways. The good part of Line 3 would certainly be its route that would work for Line 2 and the routes that would help convenience in interchanges and connectivity.

Length:	10.246 km
Type:	Elevated
Total Stoppage:	8 Stations
Station Names:	Joka, Thakurpukur, Sakherbazar, Behala Chowrasta, Behala Bazar, Morminpur, and Majerhat.

Metro Line 4 (Yellow Line)

Metro Line 4 is being conducted by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. The yellow line will connect Noapara and Barasat areas in the North 24 Parganas district of west Bengal. This route will be fairly underground and fairly elevated. Kolkata Metro route is present, and the project is still under Metro railway, Kolkata (State Government). Yellow Line 4 will give an interchange station at NSCBI Airport and will link Metro Line 6, which is currently under construction.

Length:	11.26 km
Type:	Elevated and Underground
Total Stoppage:	6 Stations
Station Names:	Michael Nagar, Birati, New Barrackpore, Hridaypur, Madhyamgram, and Barasat

Metro Line 5 (Pink Line)

Not yet completed, the Baranagar-Barrackpore Kolkata Metro Route 5 of Kolkata Metro has a great budget on hand that is worth Rs. 2,069.6 crores in the 2010-2011 railway budget. This great plan will be constructed soon to create a route from the northern suburbs to South Kolkata. The project is currently under the control of RVNL.

Based on the news released, Kolkata Metro Line 5 is supposed to contain eleven Kolkata Metro stations under its line. A 12.5 km Metro stretch will be built connecting Baranagar to Barrackpore as part of the Kolkata Metros pink line route.

Length:	12.50 km
Type:	At-Grade and Elevated
Total Stoppage:	11 Stations
Station Names:	Baranagar, Kamarhati, Sodepur, Agarpara, Subhash Nagar, Panihati, Khardaha, Tata Gate, Titagarh, Talpukur, Barrackpore

Metro Line 6 (Orange Line)

This 29.8 km route of Kolkata Metro will connect New Garia and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport via the two satellite towns of Salt Lake and New Town. The project has a budget of Rs. 4,259.50 crores, and the payment has been made having 24 Kolkata Metro stations with the underground route to terminal Biman Bandar station.

Once this project has been completed, Metro Line 6, also known as the orange line, will provide quick and easy access to the Kolkata Airport, especially for those living in the southern and the eastern parts of the city in India.

Metro History in Kolkata

24 Oct 1984: Esplanade – Netaji Bhawan (Line 1) – 3.40 km
12 Nov 1984: Dum Dum – Belgachia (Line 1) – 2.15 km
29 Apr 1986: Netaji Bhawan – Tollygunge (Line 1) – 4.24 km
13 Aug 1994: Belgachia – Shyambazar (Line 1) – 1.63 km
02 Oct 1994: Esplanade – Chandni Chowk (Line 1) – 0.71 km
19 Feb 1995: Shyam Bazaar – Girish Park (Line 1) – 1.92 km
19 Feb 1995: Chandni Chowk – Central (Line 1) – 0.60 km
27 Sep 1995: Central – Girish Park (Line 1) – 1.80 km
22 Aug 2009: Tollygunge – Garia Bazar (Line 1) – 5.85 km
07 Oct 2010: Garia Bazar – New Garia (Line 1) – 3.00 km
10 Jul 2013: Dum Dum – Noapara (Line 1) – 2.09 km
13 Feb 2020: Sector V – Salt Lake Stadium (Line 2) – 5.3 km
05 Oct 2020: Salt Lake Stadium – Phoolbagan (Line 2) – 1.7 km
21 Feb 2021: Noapara – Dakshineswar (Line 1) – 4.11 km
14 July 2022: Phoolbagan – Sealdah (Line 2) – 2.1 km

More updates will be released if there are any……

Metro Timing

In Kolkata Metro, the rules are like that of Delhi or Mumbai Metro in India. The service is from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the government tweaked the Metro timings and made everything go as planned. At every station, the train stops for like 10-20 seconds. The timing seems good because it allows many people to meet up with their time.

Fare Chart

Distance	Fares
Up to 5km	Rs. 5
Up to 5-10km	Rs. 10
Up to 10-15km	Rs. 15
Up to 15-20km	Rs. 15
Up to 20-25km	Rs. 20
Up to 25-30km	Rs. 25

Kolkata Metro Latest Updates

As of today, the Metro system agenda in Kolkata is to complete 100 kilometers by 2026. Based on what the Metro railway general manager (Arun Arora) said, he stated that the Kolkata Metro system will be able to meet up and complete about 100 kilometers in the next four years, which is 2026. The project will include phase 1 of Joka to Esplanade and New Garia to the Kolkata Airport sections.

In conclusion, it may seem hype to call Kolkata Metro the lifeline of Kolkata, but that’s true. It has been one of the most popular stations that have also made its name among the most standard railway systems.

If you’re located in Kolkata, you will be able to testify to all this and verify it. It will be great for you if you have not visited Kolkata before. This is something important you must not miss to travel for once in your lifetime. Try and grab the opportunity!