kolkata

The East-West Metro, known as the Green Line, crossed the 2-lakh rider mark for the first time—an unmistakable sign of its rising prominence among commuters . Simultaneously, the entire metro network—comprising the Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Purple lines—demonstrated its enhanced reach and integration, serving the sprawling urban landscape more comprehensively than ever before.

This surge in ridership owes much to strategic extensions and new operational segments. Prior to this record-breaking day, August 22 saw the full launch of several corridors: the complete East-West (Green) Line, the Yellow Line linking Noapara to the airport, and an Orange Line extension between Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Beleghata . This expanded network, now spanning approximately 74 km, has significantly enhanced intra-city connectivity .

Matching these infrastructure strides, anecdotal reports highlight robust usage patterns that reflect both commuter necessity and operational readiness. For instance, on September 1 (the same record-breaking day), ridership details were more granular: the Blue Line alone carried nearly 5.84 lakh passengers, while the Green Line followed with over 2.04 lakh . The Yellow, Orange, and Purple Lines, though newer or partially operational, also registered respectable numbers—hovering around 7,000 each .

Ticket revenue reaching ₹1.6 crore marks not just a monetary milestone, but an indicator of changing commuter behavior and revenue dynamics. These earnings were split across lines—with digital ticketing (e.g., mobile QR bookings) accounting for over 40% of total sales and more than 31,000 mobile QR tickets generated . This digital pivot is more than a trend—it’s reshaping revenue collection and elevating passenger convenience.

Handling more than 8 lakh daily users isn’t just about trains running; it calls for operational dexterity. In response, 72 cadets were deployed to assist commuters with digital ticketing, helping reduce queues and ease transitions to automated systems . Behind the scenes, General Manager Milind K. Deouskar reviewed service performance on the Blue and Green Lines and introduced measures to maintain smooth operations during peak demand .

Kolkata Metro’s latest achievement is about more than numbers—it reflects the system's accelerating journey to becoming the city’s transit backbone. The Green Line’s new peak, the broader metro expansion, and growing digital adoption collectively signal a transformation in how Kolkata moves.

The challenge remains: sustaining this growth in the face of infrastructure constraints, ensuring safety across all lines, and further streamlining digital access. Equally vital will be integrating these new corridors with feeder systems and urban planning, to pick up the pace of Delhi and Mumbai’s metros.

If these corridors and innovations continue to evolve as anticipated, Kolkata Metro stands poised to redefine the city's commute—transforming daily travel from a chore into a smooth, connected, and empowering experience for lakhs of citizens.