Kolkata’s Metro Railway set a new record this year, transporting 50.5 lakh passengers during the six-day Durga Puja festivities from Chaturthi (last Tuesday) to Dashami (Saturday). This marks a significant increase of 9.5 lakh commuters compared to last year, when 41 lakh passengers used the Metro during the same period.
The newly added East-West Metro’s Howrah section, inaugurated on March 15, 2024, played a pivotal role in the increased ridership. On its maiden Durga Puja service, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section carried around 3.8 lakh passengers.
The North-South line, the backbone of the city’s Metro network, was responsible for ferrying 44.2 lakh passengers. Meanwhile, the East-West Metro’s Sector V-Sealdah section saw 2.5 lakh commuters during the festivities. On the busiest day, Dum Dum station on the Blue Line recorded a peak of 4.4 lakh passengers.
“Like previous years, Metro carried the lion’s share of passengers during puja days in and around Kolkata this year. Commuters found it most convenient to use Metro to visit different pandals,” said Kausik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer of Metro Railway.
Despite the challenges of increased footfall, the Metro continued to be the preferred choice for those visiting pandals across the city, cementing its role as the lifeline of Kolkata during the festive season.