The daily commute for thousands in Kolkata has been thrust into the national spotlight after a video of a frustrated passenger lambasting the city’s Metro Railway authorities went viral. The clip, which captures the chaotic reality of rush-hour travel, has ignited a fierce online debate about infrastructure priorities, public accountability, and the stark contrast between the city’s new and old transport lines.
A Commuter’s Breaking Point
The incident began with an Instagram post by a female commuter who filmed the scene inside a dangerously overcrowded coach on Kolkata’s original North-South corridor, widely known as the Blue Line. In the video, passengers are seen jostling for space, packed tightly with no room to move.
Voicing her exasperation, the woman directly criticized the administration for what she described as the neglect of the city’s most crucial metro line. “This is literally what happens when you choose your government,” she declared in the clip. “You have opened a new metro, but you won’t fix this one.”
Her frustration was aimed at the recent inauguration of new metro lines, such as the one servicing the Salt Lake area, while the Blue Line the city’s lifeline for decades continues to suffer from operational issues. “People like us can’t go to the office because of your tomfoolery,” she added, her words resonating with countless fellow passengers.
In a subsequent update, she elaborated on the core problem plaguing the route, stating, “People who use the metro every day know the current problem is the 20-minute delay on the Blue Line that’s the real issue.”
Online Debate Erupts Over Responsibility
While the video garnered significant support from commuters who shared similar experiences of long delays and suffocating crowds, it also attracted a wave of criticism. Some online users questioned the woman’s understanding of the metro’s governance, pointing out that the Kolkata Metro is operated by the central government’s Ministry of Railways, not the state government.
Unfazed by the backlash, the commuter issued a sharp rebuttal. “Yes, I know the metro is under the central government no need to mansplain,” she responded. She argued that since the service operates within West Bengal, both central and state bodies share a degree of responsibility for ensuring its smooth functioning.
Addressing personal attacks on her appearance and English-speaking skills, she concluded with a powerful message: “Just because I look a bit elite and speak in English doesn’t mean you should be triggered. Put that energy into questioning the management instead.” Her response has shifted the conversation, with many now calling for greater accountability from officials regardless of jurisdiction.