Kolkata Metro Expansion Faces Initial Hiccups As New Airport Link And Two Vital Routes Open, Leaving Passengers Struggling With Directional Confusion

Published on August 26, 2025

India has made a important stride successful enhancing Kolkata’s nationalist carrier infrastructure pinch nan motorboat of 2 caller metro corridors. The Orange Line, connecting Kavi Subhash (New Garia) to Beleghata, and nan Yellow Line, linking Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (airport), were opened to commercialized work connected Monday. These caller routes are expected to importantly easiness recreation crossed cardinal parts of nan city, particularly pinch nan preamble of a nonstop relationship to nan airport. However, contempt nan benefits these caller corridors offer, nan first time of work was marked by sizeable disorder for passengers. The superior situation stemmed from nan deficiency of capable signage, peculiarly on nan airdrome route, which near galore commuters struggling to navigate nan stations and their connections. This early hiccup highlights nan request for much broad wayfinding solutions to guarantee that nan metro strategy afloat meets nan needs of its increasing personification base.

On Monday, 2 caller metro corridors were launched for commercialized work successful Kolkata, importantly improving nan city’s connectivity. However, passengers faced important confusion, chiefly owed to missing signage, peculiarly on nan airdrome route, which made navigation difficult for many.

The 2 caller lines are nan Orange Line, which operates betwixt Kavi Subhash (New Garia) and Beleghata, and nan Yellow Line, connecting Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar, nan airdrome station. While these routes opened pinch overmuch anticipation, nan deficiency of clear directional signage astatine cardinal stations, particularly on nan airdrome route, near passengers struggling to find their way.

On nan first time of operations betwixt Noapara and nan airport, nan ridership was comparatively low. Despite this, galore who attempted nan travel faced obstacles owed to inadequate wayfinding. This was peculiarly existent astatine Noapara, wherever trains bound for Jai Hind departed from Platform 4. Meanwhile, nan different platforms served nan North-South corridor (Blue Line) betwixt Shahid Khudiram (Briji disconnected EM Bypass) and Dakshineswar. The only parameter for passengers was an Railway Protection Force (RPF) serviceman stationed astatine nan automatic fare postulation gate. Passengers had nary signage to nonstop them to nan due platform, making nan process unnecessarily confusing.

At Jai Hind station, which is located adjacent nan airport, passengers faced different group of challenges. Despite nan station’s modern design, it lacked capable directional signage to guideline passengers towards their intended destinations. After disembarking from nan train, passengers needed to traverse a analyzable underground nexus to entree airdrome Terminal 1A. The way includes an 80-metre passageway equipped pinch walkalators and escalators. The locomotion from nan level to nan passageway entranceway takes astir 5 to six minutes, but location were nary visible signs to thief guideline passengers on nan way.

The only disposable root of accusation for confused travellers astatine Jai Hind position was an RPF serviceman stationed astatine nan baggage counters, which were situated much than 300 metres from nan platform. This reliance connected individual unit members for guidance made nan acquisition little than perfect for passengers unfamiliar pinch nan position layout.

Adding to nan frustration, nan rider accusation systems connected nan trains themselves malfunctioned. When trains bound for Jai Hind passed Jessore Road station, nan integer show boards incorrectly showed Belgachia arsenic nan adjacent stop. After leaving Jessore Road and heading towards nan airport, nan boards displayed Shyambazar alternatively of nan correct destination, causing moreover much confusion.

Despite these navigational hurdles, nan caller metro routes, peculiarly nan airdrome connection, do connection important benefits. The 6.7-kilometre travel betwixt Noapara and Jai Hind position takes conscionable 12 minutes, which is simply a awesome clip saver for commuters. This is successful stark opposition to nan much than 90 minutes it would typically return to recreation betwixt cardinal Calcutta and nan airdrome by a operation of train and taxi during unreserved hour. Additionally, for those travelling from South Calcutta, nan metro thrust offers a imaginable savings of complete ₹600 successful taxi fares.

The Yellow Line operates pinch eight-coach trains, which is accordant pinch nan setup connected astir different Metro corridors, excluding nan East-West line, which uses six-coach trains. By 5pm connected nan first time of operations, nan mixed rider count crossed each Metro lines reached conscionable nether 500,000. However, nan ridership numbers for nan caller routes were modest. While nan Blue Line typically sees complete 600,000 passengers connected weekdays, and authorities expect akin numbers for nan Green Line, nan caller Orange and Yellow lines had a slower uptake. Dum Dum Cantonment and Jessore Road stations remained consistently engaged passim nan day.

Despite nan first setbacks, nan caller metro corridors committedness to supply semipermanent improvements to Kolkata’s carrier infrastructure. As much group go acquainted pinch nan stations and nan routes, it is expected that ridership will increase, alleviating congestion connected different parts of nan metro web and providing a faster, much businesslike intends of recreation for residents and visitors alike.

The opening of nan Orange and Yellow lines is portion of an ongoing effort by Kolkata Metro authorities to grow nan city’s nationalist proscription options and trim dependence connected road-based transport. While nan teething problems encountered connected nan first time of work are to beryllium expected, nan caller corridors correspond a important measurement guardant successful addressing nan city’s carrier needs. Authorities will apt reside nan signage issues successful nan coming days to guarantee a smoother acquisition for passengers.

India has strengthened Kolkata’s nationalist carrier web pinch nan motorboat of 2 caller metro corridors, offering quicker airdrome entree and improved connectivity. However, nan first time was marred by disorder owed to insufficient signage, peculiarly on nan airdrome route, hindering rider navigation.

Ultimately, nan caller routes clasp awesome promise, offering a faster and much economical replacement for travelers, particularly those heading to and from nan airport. With improved infrastructure and clearer signage, these corridors will undoubtedly go an basal portion of nan city’s transit system, providing commuters pinch an efficient, reliable, and convenient recreation option.