Kolkata, July 23: In a move aimed at benefiting thousands of students and office-goers, the Kolkata Metro Railway will now operate trains starting at 6 AM instead of the previous 6:50 AM. To accommodate late-night workers and those attending shows or events, the last train will now depart at 10:30 PM, extended from the earlier 9:44 PM.
These services will be available from July 27, 2026, on the busiest Blue and Green lines, operating Monday through Saturday. A senior official from the Metro Railway stated, “This will add extra pressure on the Metro’s budget, but there has been a consistent demand for extended hours in the morning and evening. Extensive planning has gone into these decisions, and we have consulted all relevant stakeholders. We hope a significant number of passengers will utilize these services.”
The official also mentioned that this schedule adjustment is currently a trial. If passenger numbers do not meet expectations, the changes may be reverted.
The Blue Line, which is the country’s first metro link, runs between Garia in South Kolkata and Dakshineswar in the northern part of the city. Meanwhile, the Green Line connects Howrah Maidan in the west to Salt Lake Sector-5, known as the IT hub of Eastern India.
Additionally, the number of trains operating on the Blue Line will increase from 260 to 272 on weekdays, with Saturday services rising from 246 to 258 trains. On Sundays, the count will go up from 152 to 158 trains.
For the Green Line, the number of trains will rise from 228 to 236 during weekdays, from 204 to 212 on Saturdays, and from 108 to 111 on Sundays. Trains on both lines will run from 9 AM to 10:30 PM on Sundays.
With this initiative, the state government will also need to improve connectivity from stations to nearby areas. Enhanced security measures will be essential, especially for women taking the last trains, as some passengers may reach their destinations after 11:30 PM.
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