The festive spirit of Durga Puja has brought an unprecedented surge in passenger traffic to the Kolkata Metro, with the system recording a massive ridership of over 8.69 lakh on September 22, 2025 (Pratipad). This figure not only surpassed the previous day’s count but also eclipsed last year’s Pratipad ridership of 7.89 lakh, signaling the start of a busy festive season for the city’s lifeline.
As the city prepares for the grand festival, the Metro Railway authorities have also announced an extensive schedule, including night-long services on the Blue and Green Lines, to accommodate the millions of pandal-hoppers.
Passenger Preference Drives Record Numbers
The increasing passenger count, which has comfortably crossed the 8.5-lakh mark, reflects the growing public preference for the Metro as a “comfortable, safe, and easy mode of commuting.”
The Blue Line (Dakshineswar to Shahid Khudiram) remained the busiest corridor, transporting over 6.34 lakh passengers. The Green Line (Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V) saw more than 2.13 lakh commuters. The newer Purple and Orange Lines carried over 8,300 and 4,800 passengers respectively, while the Yellow Line catered to more than 7,600 travelers. Metro officials noted that services across all corridors ran smoothly and mostly on schedule.
Digital Ticketing Encouraged to Ease Pre-Puja Rush
To manage the heavy pre-Puja rush and reduce queues, the Metro Railway has urged commuters to switch to digital ticketing. Travelers are requested to use Smart Cards and Mobile QR tickets, which offer a 5% bonus/rebate when booked or recharged digitally.
The official ‘AAMAR KOLKATA METRO’ app has seen strong adoption, with 2,38,500 commuters downloading it between August 25 and September 21, 2025.
For tourists and visitors, Tourist Smart Cards are now available at all booking counters, offering unlimited journeys for 3 days (Rs. 250) or 5 days (Rs. 550), allowing them to bypass ticket counters entirely.
Puja Schedule: Night-Long Services for Pandal Hoppers
In a major relief for Durga Puja revelers, the Metro has confirmed extended hours, including all-night operations, during the main festive days.
Blue Line (Dakshineswar – Shahid Khudiram)
* Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami (Sept 29 to Oct 1): Services will run non-stop from 13:00 hrs. until 04:00 hrs. the next morning. A peak hour frequency of 6 to 7 minutes is targeted.
* Panchami (Sept 27): 262 services from 08:00 hrs. to 23:00 hrs.
* Sasthi (Sept 28): 246 services from 09:00 hrs. to 23:00 hrs.
* Dashami (Oct 2): 132 services from 13:00 hrs. to 22:00 hrs.
Green Line (Howrah Maidan – Salt Lake Sector V)
* Saptami, Ashtami, and Navami (Sept 29 to Oct 1): Services will be available from 13:30 hrs. until 04:18 hrs. the next morning.
* Panchami (Sept 27): 225 services from 07:30 hrs. to 23:16 hrs.
* Sasthi (Sept 28): 184 services from 09:00 hrs. to 23:28 hrs.
* Dashami (Oct 2): 74 services from 13:30 hrs. to 22:32 hrs.
Yellow Line (Noapara – Jai Hind Bimanbandar)
Services will run with a 15-minute frequency:
* Panchami & Sasthi: 60 services daily from 15:00 hrs. to 22:35 hrs.
* Saptami, Ashtami, & Navami: 62 services daily from 15:00 hrs. to 22:50 hrs.
* Dashami: 50 services from 15:00 hrs. to 21:20 hrs.
Purple Line (Joka – Majerhat)
* Panchami to Dashami (Sept 27 to Oct 2): 38 daily services will operate between 15:00 hrs. and 22:55 hrs. with a 25-minute frequency.
Note: There will be no Metro services in the Orange Line from September 27 to October 2, 2025.
Commuters are advised to utilise digital ticketing options and to cooperate with on-duty staff to ensure the smooth operation of the increased services during the festive rush.