Kolkata Metro, India's first Metro railway system, has evolved from its modest beginning of a 3.4-km stretch between Esplanade and Bhowanipore (now Netaji Bhavan) in 1984 into a multi-corridor urban rapid transit network. The Metro project in Kolkata commenced in 1972, while India's first Metro commercial service began on October 24, 1984, covering 3.4 km and three intermediate stations. As of 2025, the network had expanded to five colour-coded lines, 58 stations and 73.42 km of route length. 

 

45 km of Metro commissioned between 2014 and 2025

 

The expansion of Kolkata Metro has accelerated significantly in the last decade. Between 1972 and 2014, 28 km of Metro was commissioned, while 45 km was commissioned between 2014 and 2025. The commissioned corridors comprise the 28-km Kavi Subash–Noapara section of the Blue Line, the 4.14-km Noapara–Dakshineswar extension, the 6.77-km Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar section of the Yellow Line, the 7.74-km Joka–Majerhat section of the Purple Line, the 9.8-km New Garia–Belaghata section of the Orange Line, and the 16.55-km Howrah Maidan–Salt Lake Sector V Green Line, commissioned in stages. 

Green Line: India’s first Metro tunnel beneath a river

 

One of the most significant engineering achievements of Kolkata Metro is the Green Line's under-river tunnel beneath the Hooghly. The twin subaqueous tunnels were constructed using Earth Pressure Balancing Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) through predominantly stiff clayey silt. The under-river portion is 520 metres long and was constructed in a record 66 days. The tunnels are located approximately 350 metres downstream of Rabindra Setu (Howrah Bridge). 

corridor. The 6.77-km Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar section has been commissioned, providing Metro connectivity to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. 

 

The Purple Line is the 14-km Joka–Majerhat–Esplanade corridor. The 7.74-km Joka–Majerhat section is operational, while the remaining 6.26 km between Majerhat and Esplanade is under construction. 

design frequency. 

 

60 new-generation Metro rakes planned

 

Union Minister for Railways Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in June 2026 that 60 new-generation Metro rakes would be inducted into the Kolkata Metro network over the next four to five years as part of the modernisation of the system. The announcement also highlighted that 45 km of Metro lines had been added in 11 years, compared with 27 km in the preceding 40 years in that particular comparison. 

Passenger traffic and digital ticketing

Metro Railway carried 23.60 crore passengers during 2025-26, according to figures highlighted by Metro Railway General Manager Shri Prem Sagar Gupta in his Independence Day address in August 2026. The network is projected by Metro Railway to expand to approximately 130 km in the coming years. 

 

Digital ticketing has also expanded. The Aamar Kolkata Metro application enables passengers to purchase tickets online, including QR-based tickets, and supports digital payment facilities. Metro Railway has also promoted digital purchase of tokens and Smart Cards and Smart Card recharges through the app. 

 

A legacy of engineering and urban connectivity

 

Kolkata Metro has progressed from its first 3.4-km route in 1984 to a 73.42-km network with 58 stations and five colour-coded lines, while major expansion projects continue to extend Metro connectivity towards the airport, northern suburbs, southern Kolkata and central business districts. Its engineering milestones include the 520-metre under-Hooghly tunnel, constructed in 66 days, and the approximately 30-metre-deep Howrah Metro station. 

 

The continuing expansion, modernisation of rolling stock, augmentation of power infrastructure and introduction of digital passenger services are aimed at strengthening Kolkata Metro as a major component of the city's urban public transport system.

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