Kolkata metro expansion brings airport link, east west and orange extension
Kolkata’s metro network is on the verge of a major leap, with the city set to gain its much-anticipated airport connectivity alongside critical network extensions that will reshape how residents and visitors travel across the metropolis. The commissioning of new corridors is being hailed as a decisive moment for Kolkata’s mass transport system, promising faster journeys and greener mobility in one of India’s busiest urban centres.
The most anticipated milestone is the opening of the 7-km Noapara-Airport metro corridor, which will finally connect the city’s north with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Officials confirmed that this long-awaited link will allow commuters to access the airport directly while also integrating with the existing Dakshineswar-Sahid Khudiram Blue Line. This means passengers can now travel the length of the city and connect seamlessly at Esplanade with the East-West Yellow Line, enhancing cross-city travel from Howrah to Sector V.Transport planners highlight that the new connectivity goes beyond convenience. It is expected to reduce dependence on road travel to the airport, cutting down congestion and vehicular emissions, in line with the city’s push towards sustainable urban mobility. Experts also note that the move strengthens Kolkata’s case as a carbon-conscious metro city, particularly at a time when aviation-linked travel is expanding rapidly.Equally significant is the 4.4-km extension of the Orange Line from Ruby (Hemanta Mukhopadhyay station) to Metropolitan (Beleghata station).
This section adds strength to a corridor that had suffered setbacks after the indefinite closure of Kavi Subhash, the terminal interchange on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. The extension means that commuters in eastern Kolkata can once again rely on metro travel, with direct access to Science City and Metropolitan offering a viable public transit alternative.Officials point out that the Orange Line’s revival will be crucial to regaining lost ridership. “The network’s viability depends on continuous expansion, and this extension provides much-needed relief to commuters who had been forced back onto congested road routes,” an official said.
Yet, challenges remain. The closure of the Kavi Subhash interchange continues to restrict full integration of the Orange Line with the North-South corridor, leaving seamless travel incomplete for now. Residents across the southern suburbs argue that until this bottleneck is resolved, the city’s metro promise will remain only partially fulfilled.Despite these gaps, urban planners agree that Kolkata is entering a new phase of metro-led growth. With airport connectivity finally realised and critical eastward extensions completed, the network is poised to deliver faster, cleaner and more equitable transport options, cementing the city’s place among India’s leading urban rail hubs.
