Kolkata Metro Blue Line Faces Rush Before Durga Puja

Post by : Bandan Preet

Kolkata’s Metro Blue Line, also called the north-south corridor, has been witnessing huge crowds for weeks now. On Sunday, despite it being a holiday, the situation was no different. Trains were packed with passengers, stations were crowded, and the rush was clearly visible. The main reason for this extra rush is the shopping season before Durga Puja, when families and groups head to popular markets in the city.

Heavy Rush Across Key Stations

Around 6:20 in the evening, as a train entered Esplanade station, large groups of people got down while many more boarded. Inside the coaches, there was hardly any space to stand. A good number of these passengers were heading towards New Market, one of Kolkata’s busiest shopping spots.

Other stations like Kalighat, Park Street, and Shyambazar also faced a huge rush throughout the day. According to a Metro official, the number of passengers kept rising steadily, finally peaking in the evening hours.

For the past several weeks, the Blue Line has been overcrowded not only during office hours but also at non-peak times. People are often seen jostling for space on platforms and inside coaches. Many times, the train doors fail to shut properly because of the rush, leading to longer stoppages at stations.

Suspension of Services for Engineering Work

On Sunday, services between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge) and Shahid Khudiram (Briji) were stopped until 3:40 in the afternoon. This was done so that Metro authorities could install a new reversal point at Shahid Khudiram station. Since July 28, this station has been serving as the southern terminal after Metro services were suspended at Kavi Subhash (New Garia). The reason for halting service at New Garia was cracks that were found in the platform pillars.

The new reversal point is very important because it will help trains change direction faster. At present, this process takes longer than usual and causes overcrowding on platforms and inside trains.

A Metro official explained, “A power block was in place to carry out the civil engineering work. This began late on Saturday night, around 11 pm, and went on till 3 pm on Sunday. The first train towards Dakshineswar left Shahid Khudiram at 3:40 pm.”

The work included laying a new track that connects the New Garia-bound and Dakshineswar-bound lines. Once this link becomes operational, trains will be able to reverse direction smoothly.

The official added that the civil work had to be done in one go without any interruptions. After this, signalling and telecommunication upgrades will be carried out in phases. Those will be managed during weekdays without requiring a full shutdown.

When asked if a similar block would be required again next weekend, the official did not give a clear answer. However, he assured that the reversal point will undergo proper testing and the goal is to complete everything before Durga Puja begins.

Concerns Before Durga Puja

Durga Puja, the biggest festival in Bengal, is less than a month away. Every year, the Metro plays a major role in carrying lakhs of people across the city during the Puja rush. The rush usually starts about two weeks before the festival and reaches its peak around Sashthi. During the actual Puja days, trains run almost the entire night to handle the crowd.

This year, many passengers are worried because of the delays and overcrowding already seen in daily service. With the Puja season approaching, people are unsure how the Metro will manage the extra load.

Impact of New Corridors on Passenger Load

In recent months, three new Metro links have been opened:

• Sealdah to Esplanade

• Ruby to Beleghata

• Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar

Out of these, the Sealdah–Esplanade link is especially important as it has completed the East-West corridor (Green Line) between Sector V and Howrah Maidan.

While these new connections are a big achievement for the city’s transport system, they have also added to the pressure on the Blue Line. Many more passengers are now boarding the north-south corridor to reach different parts of the city. According to officials, the daily passenger count has increased by more than 1 lakh because of this Green Line boost.

This added pressure, combined with the delays caused by the missing reversal point at Shahid Khudiram, has made the Blue Line even more overcrowded.

The Way Ahead

Metro officials are trying to complete the reversal work and related upgrades before the Puja season starts. The hope is that once the reversal point becomes functional, trains will be able to change tracks faster, leading to fewer delays at stations.

Even so, the challenge remains big. With lakhs of passengers expected to use the Metro daily during Durga Puja, authorities will have to ensure that services remain smooth, reliable, and safe.

Until then, commuters continue to face crowded stations, packed coaches, and longer waiting times. While the situation on Sunday was slightly less chaotic than recent days, the signs of heavy rush were clear everywhere. With festive shoppers adding to the numbers, the Blue Line is likely to remain crowded in the coming weeks.

Metro Blue Line, Esplanade station