The Kolkata Metro Railway, India’s first metro system, operates on a single line with 24 stations. Established in 1984, it is 27.22 km long and bisects the city of Kolkata from north to south. It provides regular services from 6:45 am to 9:55 pm, with a departure frequency of approximately 7 minutes. The basic fare on the Metro is just 4 rupees (equivalent to 0.06 USD).
The system is also known as the Metro Railway. It carries about 474,000 passengers a day. Unfortunately, there is no information on fares. It doesn’t operate 24 hours a day and has no air conditioning. Walking between platforms is not allowed and the trains are not driverless.
The platforms are not equipped with screen doors. The system operates at an average speed of 30km/h and can reach a maximum speed of 55km/h. It is operated by the Kolkata Metro Railway under the central government’s Ministry of Railways. The fare is Rs 5.
Map of the Kolkata Metro
Map of Kolkata Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Kolkata Metro map in PDF format.
An Insight into the City’s Past and Present
Kolkata is one of India’s oldest and most densely populated cities, trailing only Mumbai and Delhi in terms of population. With a history stretching back over 2000 years, the latest census estimates put the current population at around 15,230,000.
Post-Independence, from the 1960s to the 1990s, Kolkata faced severe economic crises and political instability triggered by its downgrading as India’s capital. This period saw significant population migration and industrial closures.
Despite its turbulent past, Kolkata has emerged as one of India’s most important economic hubs. Located in the eastern region of the country, the city is characterised by a dynamic mix of poverty and prosperity, bustling retail and prominent financial institutions. However, it continues to struggle with challenges such as pollution and overpopulation.
Delving into the Metro System
Growing traffic congestion in the early 1950s spurred the concept of a rapid transit system in Kolkata. It wasn’t until the following decades that the idea became a reality, after overcoming many obstacles.
The Kolkata Metro, officially recognised as the Metro Railway, began commercial operations on 24 October 1984. As India’s first metro, it initially covered a distance of 3.40 km through five stations from Esplanade to Bhowanipur.
Today, it serves some 600,000 daily commuters and is renowned for its cost-effectiveness. In addition to the operational line, five new lines are under construction. There are also plans to extend the north-south axis (Line 1), which is prioritised for its coverage of the regions between Dum Dum and Kavi Subhas.
Lines and Stations of the Kolkata Metro
The Kolkata Metro Railway consists of six lines, of which one is currently operational and five are under construction. The operational line, inaugurated in 1984, spans the north-south axis of Kolkata, serving regions from Dum Dum to Kavi Subhas. It covers a distance of 27.22 km with 24 operational stations. The affordability of its tickets compared to taxis or buses, coupled with a pleasant ride, makes it a popular choice for the city’s commuters.
The Noapara-Kavi Subhash Line
The Noapara-Kavi Subhash Line, or North-South Axis, was the first line to be built in 1984 and is the only line in operation today. It runs through 24 stations, 15 of which are underground and the rest above ground, offering passengers scenic views of the city. The line has a total length of 27.22 km. The tracks were built using the world’s widest gauge, known as the “Indian Gauge”, which is five and a half feet wide.
There are plans to extend the line by adding three more stations from Dakshineswar to Noapara. The expansion is expected to be completed within two years, by June 2025.
The East-West Line
The East-West Line, the second line of this metro system, is currently under construction and will have 12 stations (six underground and six above ground). This line will connect Kolkata to Howrah via an underwater route under the Hooghly River, making the Kolkata Metro India’s first underwater metro.
Construction began in 2009 and was initially handled by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC). However, due to certain challenges, the construction was handed over to the Ministry of Urban Development of the Railways and the State Government of West Bengal in 2011. In June 2016, the route was adjusted and its length increased to 16.55 km, with the line expected to cover the region from Sector 5 in Salt Lake to Howrah Maidan. Construction has been divided into two phases, with the first phase (Sector 5 to Sealdah) expected to be operational by June 2025 and the second phase (Sealdah to Howrah Maidan) to be completed by August 2026.
The Joka-Esplanade Line
The Joka-Esplanade line (Line 3), when completed, will have 12 stations over a length of 17.75 km from the southern end of Kolkata (Joka) to the city centre (Esplanade). Construction is being undertaken by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the state’s national transporter, and is expected to be completed by December 2025.
The Noapara-Barasat Line
Line 4 of the Kolkata Metro, the Noapara-Barasat line, is the longest of the metro lines, stretching 18.5 km from Noapara to Barasat. The line has 10 elevated stations, including one inside the airport that connects with Line 6. However, plans to extend the line beyond the airport have run into territorial problems.
The Baranagar-Barrackpore Line
The Baranagar-Barrackpore Line, or Line 5, is planned to have 11 elevated stations along a 12.40 km stretch of railway. It was originally designed to provide a fast commute from the northern suburbs to southern Kolkata. However, construction challenges related to potential damage to water pipes along the Barrackpore Trunk Road have led to a reconsideration of the route.
The Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind Line
The Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind line, Line 6, is intended to be the largest line of all, with 24 stations (mostly elevated) spanning 29.1 km of railway. Construction began in February 2011 and is expected to be completed within six years. The line will connect the Kavi Subhas (New Garia) area to the airport, providing a much-needed transit route for the southern regions of Kolkata.
Significant Modifications
- Construction of Neopara station: One of the major changes to the Kolkata Metro is the construction of Neopara station. This station will have four transfer platforms, one of which will facilitate transfers to the Kolkata International Airport via Line 4. Currently, two platforms are operational and the remaining two are under construction.
- Construction of the “World’s Tallest Station”: As part of the plan to extend Line 2 to connect with the airport, a new station is proposed at Haldiram’s junction on VIP Road. This station will stand at an impressive height of 22 metres.
Train Signaling System and Departure Frequency
Like the rest of India’s national railways, the Kolkata Metro operates on a common automatic signalling technology.
Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS): This system is also used by two of the world’s largest rail networks in the UK and Australia. It is designed to prevent train collisions caused by human error, such as a driver’s mistake. For example, if a train bypasses a warning signal without authorisation or at high speed, the TPWS detects the irregularity and initiates automatic braking to stop the train.
Train Description System and Automatic Train Graph: The Kolkata Railway system has a Train Description System and an Automatic Train Graph. This centralised control system allows monitoring and real-time tracking of the entire train journey.
Schedules, Timetables, and Calendar
The metro runs from 6.45am to 9.55pm with a 7 minute wait between trains. During rush hours, a train arrives every 5 minutes due to the high volume of passengers. On Sundays the metro starts at 9.50am and runs for 12 hours, ending at 9.50pm.
Amenities and Services at Stations
All stations on Line 1 have air conditioning and water coolers. Some trains are also air-conditioned. Special seats are reserved for women and senior citizens on all trains.
Fares, Tickets, and Cards
The Kolkata Metro is the cheapest form of transport in the city. The standard fare is 4 Indian rupees (INR), equivalent to 0.06 US dollars (USD). Children under the age of four can travel for free.
- Tokens: Magnetic tickets were sold from the inauguration of the Kolkata Metro until mid-2011. From 2011, the metro introduced radio frequency identification (RFID) tokens issued by the Centre of Railway Information Systems (CRIS). This new system replaced the previous magnetic stripe gates with new RFID scanners.
- Smart cards: Kolkata Metro introduced another innovation with the service of smart cards for users. These cards, also issued by CRIS, allow users to pay in advance and plan multiple trips. This payment option is the most popular among passengers because of the convenience of not having to queue for tokens every day.
Safety
In terms of safety, the Kolkata Metro is the safest mode of transport in Kolkata. The safety of users is ensured through the use of CCTV cameras and metal detectors installed in all metro stations. These cameras also monitor users’ compliance with rules within the facilities, such as no photography or smoking.
Connection to the Airport
Getting to the Kolkata International Airport by metro is easy as the two systems are interconnected. You can board the Kavi Subhash-Jai Hind line (metro line 6) at any of the Dum Dum, Majerhat and Sealdah interchange stations to reach Biman Bandar station on the Noapara-Barasat line (metro line 4). This terminal station is located inside the airport building.
Similarly, if you are at Kolkata airport and want to travel elsewhere, you have two options. You can take the train from the airport to the south (line 4) or you can take the bus from outside the building to Esplanade, where you can board a train to any part of the city.
The Trains of Kolkata Metro
The Kolkata Metro started with four trains. As the city’s traffic grew over time, the number of trains in service increased sixfold. Today, 25 trains serve daily commuters. However, 18 of these are being phased out and replaced as they become obsolete. So far, three types of trains have been used for the Kolkata Metro:
- BHEL Rake (Model 1000): These were the first trains used for the metro system, which runs between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. They were manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and were recognisable by their dark green colour with a yellow stripe along the bottom. Now, after some modifications, they are recognisable by their yellow colour with a brown stripe along the bottom and a numbering system ranging from B1 to B9. They have a maximum speed of 55 km/h and do not have air conditioning.
- Rake NGEF (model 2000): Also manufactured by ICF, the Rake NGEF (Model 2000) trains were introduced in 1990, when the second phase of the metro was completed and expansion began. Although these trains have a higher acceleration than the previous model, they have the same top speed (55 km/h) and do not have air conditioning. They were originally yellow with a chestnut brown stripe along the bottom. Now they are white with a blue stripe along the bottom and can be identified by the “8N” symbol printed on them.
- BHEL / Knorr Bremse AC (Model 3000): This model was manufactured by ICF in collaboration with BHEL, an Indian state-owned company that handles the engineering and manufacturing, and Knorr Bremse, a German company that manufactures the brakes. These are the latest trains to be added to the Kolkata Metro fleet in 2010, covering the elevated section between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Kavi Nazrul. There are currently 13 Model 3000 trains in service on Line 1. They have a top speed of 35km/h and a more technologically advanced design. They have LCD screens in the driver’s cab and electronic panels with LED lights and multilingual information inside and outside the trains. Another major innovation is the installation of air conditioning.
- BEML: BEML, an Indian public sector heavy engineering company, has been awarded a contract to manufacture 14 new trains to be installed on Line 2 in the first half of 2017. The project, with a budget of around $900 million, will see the manufacture of trains with up to six coaches, including microprocessors and three-phase AC motors for train control.
- CNR Dalian Locomotive Company: The production of 14 new state-of-the-art trains was handed over to the Chinese company CNR Dalian Locomotive Company. These trains, which will be added to Line 1, will have 8 carriages each and will have a top speed of 80 km/h and an average speed of 65 km/h. As well as being much faster than other models, these trains will have an aerodynamic front, doors with LED lighting and spacious vestibules. They will be silver with a purple stripe. The Chinese company expects to deliver these trains to Kolkata in the first half of December 2017.
- ICF/MEDHA: Two new train prototypes will be added to the metro fleet. These trains will also be manufactured by ICF, but this time in collaboration with MEDHA, which plans to supply 10 trains by September 2017. These trains will have three engines, regenerative braking, closed-circuit television cameras and an improved passenger information system.