Outlook Business Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata on Friday, August 22, to launch and lay foundation stones for projects worth ₹5,200 crore. These include three metro expansions and an elevated corridor designed to ease daily travel across the city.
PM Modi will inaugurate three new metro stretches and lay the foundation of the ₹1,200 crore Kona Expressway project. Together, these projects aim to improve connectivity between Howrah, central Kolkata, and the city's international airport, reducing travel time for commuters.
For the first time in its 41-year history, Kolkata Metro will directly connect the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport with other parts of the city. This long-awaited Yellow Line link will significantly ease airport access for passengers.
The Green Line stretch between Sealdah and Esplanade spans 2.45 km. This metro route will cut travel time between the two busy Kolkata points from nearly 40 minutes to just about 11 minutes, saving time for daily commuters.
The Yellow Line’s 6.77 km stretch between Noapara and Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Airport) station will directly connect the city to the airport. It is expected to benefit thousands of travellers daily, offering a faster and more seamless transit option.
The Orange Line’s new 4.3 km route from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata will strengthen metro access to the city’s IT hub. This addition will support professionals and students commuting to Sector 5 and surrounding areas daily.
With the new metro corridors, Kolkata Metro will add 366 additional train services every day. This expansion is expected to raise the network’s carrying capacity to nearly 9.15 lakh passengers daily, offering smoother and more frequent travel options.
After inaugurating the projects, PM Modi will flag off metro services at around 4:15 pm. He will then take a ride from Jessore Road to the newly built Jai Hind Bimanbandar station and back, before addressing a gathering on Kolkata’s transport transformation.