Kolkata’s mass rapid transit network is recalibrating its weekend operations this January, with the city’s metro system scheduling a higher number of services on Sundays across its two busiest corridors. The operational adjustment reflects changing travel behaviour in India’s older metros, where weekends now see sustained movement driven by retail activity, leisure travel and flexible work patterns.
According to railway officials, the increase in services is concentrated on the north–south and east–west axes, which together carry a substantial share of the city’s daily ridership. The decision to enhance Kolkata Metro Sunday services is aimed at easing platform crowding and reducing waiting times during mid-day and evening hours, when passenger volumes have been rising steadily in recent years.
On the city’s primary north–south corridor, trains will run at a higher frequency throughout the day, supported by extended operating windows at night. Transport planners say this corridor plays a critical role in connecting high-density residential areas with commercial districts and interchange nodes, making service predictability particularly important for lower-income commuters who rely on public transport even on non-working days.
The east–west line, linking the historic business district with the Salt Lake technology and residential hub, will also see additional trains. Urban economists point out that this corridor increasingly supports weekend economic activity, including hospitality, healthcare and informal employment. Improved service levels on Sundays help distribute travel demand more evenly across the week, reducing peak-hour stress on infrastructure. From a sustainability perspective, the expansion of Kolkata Metro Sunday services aligns with broader goals of encouraging public transport use over private vehicles. With road congestion and emissions remaining persistent challenges, especially in central Kolkata, marginal increases in metro frequency can translate into meaningful reductions in car and two-wheeler trips. Climate and transport experts note that even small operational changes can strengthen the metro’s role as the backbone of a low-carbon urban mobility system.
The revised schedules also indicate a shift in how transit agencies are interpreting ridership data. Traditionally, Sundays were treated as low-demand days with curtailed services. However, post-pandemic travel patterns suggest a more even spread of demand, driven by mixed-use development and extended commercial hours. This has implications for real estate planning around stations, where footfall is no longer confined to weekday peaks. Passengers are expected to benefit not only from more trains but also from better timetable alignment between lines, improving interchange efficiency.
While no infrastructure upgrades are involved in the January change, officials say such operational fine-tuning helps maximise returns on existing assets.
Looking ahead, urban transport specialists argue that sustained monitoring of weekend ridership will be essential. If higher Sunday demand becomes a structural trend, it could justify longer-term investments in signalling upgrades, rolling stock and station amenities. For now, the January adjustments signal a pragmatic step towards making Kolkata’s metro system more responsive, inclusive and aligned with the evolving rhythms of city life.
Kolkata Metro adjusts weekend service intensity
