Overview
Kolkata's rapid transit system, the Kolkata Metro, was opened in 1984 and is the first rapid transit system in South Asia. It serves the city of Kolkata and the wider Kolkata Metropolitan Region in West Bengal, India, and is owned and operated by Metro Railway, Kolkata and Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation. Metro Railway, Kolkata became the 17th zone of the Indian Railways in December 2010, making it the only metro system in the country controlled entirely by Indian Railways.
As of 2025 the system has five colour-coded lines with 58 operational stations and a total length of 73.42 km (45.62 mi), making it India's fourth largest and fourth busiest metro rail system. It mixes underground, at-grade and elevated stations, uses both broad-gauge and standard-gauge tracks, and runs on a 750 V DC third-rail system. Around 300 daily train trips carry more than 800,000 passengers, and trains generally operate between 06:30 and 22:44 IST.
Riding it end to end as a visitor is straightforward. Enter a station, buy a token, a QR ticket or top up a smart card at the concourse-level counter or vending machine, tap or scan at the automatic fare collection gate, ride to your destination, then either deposit your token in the exit slot or tap out so the correct distance-based fare is deducted. Fares depend on the distance you travel rather than the number of interchanges you make, so changing lines mid-journey does not by itself cost you more.
The network
Kolkata's public transport is an extensive mix of metro, suburban rail, tram, bus and ferry services. The metro itself is the fastest way across the city, while suburban trains, buses and ferries fill in the rest of the metropolis and the river crossings.
Metro (rapid transit)
The metro is organised into five colour-coded lines:
- Blue Line — the original north–south corridor and India's first metro, opened in 1984. It runs between Dakshineswar and Kavi Subhash (New Garia), passing Dum Dum, Shyambazar, Esplanade, Park Street, Rabindra Sadan, Kalighat and Tollygunge.
- Green Line (East–West Corridor) — runs through India's first under-river tunnel beneath the Hooghly. It connects Howrah Maidan and Howrah on the west bank with Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. Howrah metro station is the deepest metro station in India at 34 m (112 ft).
- Purple Line (Joka–Eden Gardens Corridor) — serves the south-west of the city; it opened in 2022 and is currently truncated at Majerhat.
- Orange Line — serves the south-east, running from Kavi Subhash towards Beleghata and a future airport corridor; it opened in 2024.
- Yellow Line — opened in 2025, running from Noapara to Jai Hind. Jai Hind metro station became the largest metro station in India, and one of the largest in Asia, when it was inaugurated in August 2025.
Key interchanges include Esplanade, the main Blue–Green interchange and one of the busiest stations, close to the Esplanade bus terminus and New Market; Kavi Subhash (New Garia), the Blue–Orange interchange in the south; Howrah, where the Green Line serves Howrah railway station directly; and Sealdah, also on the Green Line, which handles heavy railway connection traffic.
Suburban rail
Kolkata is served by five major railway stations across the metropolis — Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata, Santragachi Junction and Shalimar — which connect the city to almost all major stations in India. Most local trains run from Howrah and Sealdah. Services reach as far as Lalgola in the north, Hasnabad in the east, Namkhana in the south, Midgapore in the south-west and Bardhaman in the west. Howrah is the largest railway complex in India, with over 600 trains arriving per day and an estimated two million people using it daily; Sealdah is one of the busiest railway stations in India.
Trams
Kolkata also has a tram network, historically part of the city's street-level public transport mix alongside buses.
Buses
Buses are well served across the city and beyond, with intercity termini including Babughat Bus Terminus, Esplanade Bus Terminus (Dharmatala Bus Stand), the SBSTC Bus Stand and the Shyamoli Paribahan Bus Depot. State-run air-conditioned buses connect the airport to the city centre, and air-conditioned buses also run between Howrah Station and Kolkata Airport.
Ferries
Ferries cross the Hooghly River. There is a ferry terminal ("ghat") opposite Howrah Station that takes you to the opposite side of the river, and various ferry options also run from Howrah, Serampore and Uttarpara.
Tickets & fares
Kolkata Metro fares are distance-based and are described as among the lowest in India. Fares are approximate and change, so always check current prices before you travel. The system uses three payment methods: a single-journey token, a QR ticket through the Aamar Kolkata Metro app, and a rechargeable Metro Smart Card. Tokens are bought at station counters or vending machines — you tap at the entry gate and deposit the token in a slot at the exit. QR tickets are booked via the app and scanned at the automatic fare collection gates. Newer gates also accept the National Common Mobility Card, though availability varies by station and line.
Token and QR fares by number of stations travelled are roughly:
- 1–2 stations: ₹5
- 3–5 stations: ₹10
- 6–7 stations: ₹15
- 8–10 stations: ₹20
- 11–12 stations: ₹25
- 13+ stations: ₹30
An alternative distance-based slab structure gives token/QR fares of ₹5 (0–2 km), ₹10 (2–5 km), ₹15 (5–10 km), ₹20 (10–15 km), ₹25 (15–20 km) and ₹30 (20–25 km and over 25 km), with the smart card charging slightly less on longer trips — for example ₹9 instead of ₹10, ₹13 instead of ₹15, ₹18 instead of ₹20, ₹22 instead of ₹25 and ₹27 instead of ₹30. The minimum fare is ₹5 and the maximum is ₹30. Fare depends on distance travelled, not on the number of interchanges.
The Metro Smart Card is an official contactless rechargeable card issued by Metro Railway, Kolkata. You tap in and tap out, and the correct distance-based fare is deducted automatically. It carries a 10% bonus on value loaded — for example, a ₹100 recharge gives you ₹110 of travel value. Cards are sold at ₹100, ₹200, ₹300, ₹500 or ₹1000, which includes a refundable ₹60 security deposit with the remainder as travel credit. The minimum top-up is ₹50 and the maximum balance is ₹1,000. Validity runs for one year from purchase or last top-up, and topping up extends it. You need at least ₹25 on the card to enter (the maximum single fare), which is reconciled to the actual fare on exit. Registering the card with photo ID such as an Aadhaar or passport at the counter allows you to recover the balance if it is lost or damaged; anonymous cards cannot be recovered. Payment is accepted in cash, by UPI or by card.
You can recharge at the customer service counter at any station (minimum ₹50), at self-service recharge machines at major stations (touchscreen, accepting cash, UPI and cards), and online or through the app as this facility is rolled out. You can check your balance live at station gates, vending machines and counters, with online balance lookup gradually being added. Children below the height or age limit travel free when accompanied by a paying adult. Ticket counters and customer service desks are at concourse level in every station.
From the airport
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU), also known as Dum Dum Airport, lies about 18 km (11 mi) outside the city centre on Jessore Road. Public transport options into the centre include:
- By metro: the airport is served by Jai Hind station, in front of the parking lot.
- By bus: state-run air-conditioned buses are available to the city centre. They are cheaper and hassle-free, and are parked outside the arrival gate at the integrated terminal. Taxi touts may try to convince you the buses no longer run — they do.
- By taxi: at busy hours it is better to take a prepaid taxi (₹150–250), which takes you directly to your destination. There is no practice of tipping taxi drivers anywhere in India. App-based cab services such as Ola and Uber are also available from the airport.
Etiquette & customs
- Queue for tickets and at the fare gates rather than crowding the counter; orderly queuing is expected at stations.
- On escalators, stand on one side and leave the other side clear for people walking past.
- Priority and reserved seating is intended for women, the elderly and passengers with disabilities — offer your seat if someone needs it more than you do.
- Eating and drinking are not permitted inside metro trains and paid areas; finish snacks before you pass through the gates.
- During rush hour, trains can be very crowded. Let passengers exit before you board, move right into the carriage rather than blocking the doors, and keep your belongings close.
- Keep noise down and avoid loud phone conversations in carriages, especially in quiet areas.
- Keep your token or card ready at the gates so you do not hold up the queue behind you.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metro / subway — মেট্রো (metro)
- Ticket — টিকিট (tikit)
- Line — লাইন (lain)
- Entrance — প্রবেশ (probesh)
- Exit — প্রস্থান (prosthan)
- Transfer / interchange — বদল (bodol)
- Single fare — একক ভাড়া (ekok bhara)
- Day pass — দৈনিক পাস (doinik pass)
Before you set out, check the current fares and timings on the official Metro Railway, Kolkata pages, since prices and schedules change and Sunday and public-holiday services start later than on weekdays.