PM Modi Inaugurates New Kolkata Metro Lines on August 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate new Kolkata Metro lines on August 22, 2025, an event anticipated to significantly enhance the city's urban transport network by providing faster and more convenient travel options to millions of commuters daily. The inauguration ceremony, scheduled for the afternoon around 4:15 pm, will mark the opening of important new stretches on the Green, Yellow, and Orange Metro lines, opening up key routes that connect vital parts of Kolkata including rail hubs, business areas, and the airport.

The newly inaugurated network will cover about 13.6 kilometers, integrating previously incomplete sections to provide seamless connectivity. The Green Line extension from Sealdah to Esplanade is a major highlight, drastically reducing travel time between two of Kolkata’s busiest railway stations from nearly 40 minutes by road to only about 11 minutes by metro—a significant improvement for daily commuters and travelers.

The Yellow Line will be extended from Noapara to Jai Hind (Biman Bandar), directly linking the city’s metro network to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. This 7.04 km stretch includes a mix of underground (1.8 km) and elevated sections and is poised to offer a fast, comfortable commute to air travelers and airport staff, cutting travel times and easing the usual road congestion near the airport.

Meanwhile, the Orange Line will see an extension from Hemanta Mukherjee (Ruby More) to Beleghata, about 4.4 km, enhancing connectivity for the IT corridor, hospitals, schools, and business centers between South and East Kolkata. This extension is expected to double passenger traffic on the Orange Line, signaling its importance in the city’s transport ecosystem.

Fares for these metro services are designed to be affordable, with a minimum fare starting at Rs 5 for short distances (up to 2 km) to a maximum fare of Rs 30 for the longest stretches (up to around 16.5 km). This pricing strategy intends to balance accessibility and sustainability, enabling a broad range of commuters to benefit from the metro.

From a broader perspective, the expansion of Kolkata Metro lines reflects ongoing efforts to address the challenges of urban mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and promote public transportation in a city known for its dense population and heavy road traffic. The inauguration ahead of the city's major cultural festival season adds to the importance, potentially transforming the commuting experience for residents and visitors alike.

Many people have welcomed these developments, seeing them as a vital step towards modernizing Kolkata’s transport links and improving the quality of life by offering faster and more reliable transit options. However, as always with large infrastructure projects, some observers note the importance of continued maintenance, efficient operations, and integration with other transport modes to fully realize these benefits.

Overall, PM Modi’s inauguration of the new Kolkata Metro lines on August 22 represents a significant milestone for the city’s public transport system, promising a future with quicker, safer, and more affordable metro travel for its citizens.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies