PM Modi to inaugurate Kolkata metro projects today: Routes, cost, airport link, commuter benefits – 10 things to know
Kolkata is set for a significant infrastructural transformation in decades, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating three metro stretches and laying the foundation stone for a major expressway project on Friday. The developments are expected to ease traffic congestion, cut travel time, and strengthen connectivity between key hubs, including the airport.
10 things to know about the projects
Here are 10 key things to know about the infrastructural boost set for Friday afternoon1. Historic metro expansion – PM Modi will inaugurate 13.61 km of new metro stretches, marking one of the biggest single-day additions to Kolkata’s urban transport.2. First direct airport link – The Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Yellow Line) will directly connect the city to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport for the first time in 41 years.3. Travel time slashed – The new lines will cut a 50-minute road journey to just 11 minutes, while the airport commute from Esplanade will drop to around 30 minutes.4. Green Line ‘game-changer’ – The Sealdah–Esplanade extension (2.45 km) will connect the city’s two busiest railway hubs, Howrah and Sealdah, transforming passenger movement.5. Orange Line connectivity – The Hemanta Mukhopadhyay–Beleghata (4.4 km) stretch will link Science City, hospitals, schools, and IT corridors, boosting east-south city transit.6. Ease for daily commuters – Together, the three new corridors will add 366 train services daily, increasing capacity to 9.15 lakh passengers per day.7. Single smart card convenience – A single metro smart card will work across all routes, making travel seamless for passengers switching lines.8. Modern facilities – Stations will feature wider concourses, elevators, escalators, toilets, divyang-friendly amenities, and real-time information systems.9. Airport terminal station design – The Jai Hind Bimanbandar terminal is fully underground with direct access to the airport, while Jessore Road station has been built at ground level.10. Big push to trade and tourism – Officials say the projects will ease road congestion, enhance multimodal connectivity, and provide a major boost to commerce, tourism, and airport-linked economic activity.
