Kolkata Metro extends service till 11 PM on Christmas, extra buses and taxis for holiday crowd

Kolkata is witnessing a festive atmosphere as the city is decorated for Christmas, with crowds flocking to various popular destinations. To accommodate the increased number of people, transport authorities have made significant adjustments to public transport schedules, including the Kolkata Metro and bus services. These measures are intended to ensure smooth travel for the public during the holiday season.

The Kolkata Metro will operate with extended hours on December 25, 2024, to manage the holiday rush. The last metro train from Kavi Subhash Station will depart at 11:00 PM, instead of the usual 10:40 PM. This extension allows commuters from Kavi Subhash to reach Park Street around 11:30 PM. The last metro from Dakshineswar will leave at 10:53 PM. These extended metro services are aimed at helping late-night travelers return home safely, especially those attending Christmas festivities in central areas like Park Street, Dharmatala, and Maidan.

In addition to the metro, extra bus services will operate from both Howrah and Sealdah stations. These additional buses will cater to the high number of passengers arriving in the city for Christmas celebrations. The buses will run throughout the day and night, with a particular focus on areas such as Park Street, where the crowds are expected to be the largest. Both AC and non-AC buses will be available to meet different commuting preferences.

Special arrangements have been made for Eco Park, which sees heavy foot traffic during the holiday season. To handle the increased number of visitors, special bus services will run on December 25, 29, 31, and January 1. These buses will specifically target the Eco Park area, helping manage the crowd and providing more transport options for visitors. The move is aimed at reducing congestion around the park and ensuring that holiday-goers can access the location with ease.

App-based taxis and regular cabs will also be available across the city throughout the night to support the increased demand for transportation. These taxis will be concentrated in high-traffic areas such as Park Street, Dharmatala, and Maidan, offering an alternative to those who prefer not to use the metro or buses. The availability of these cabs will be crucial for people heading back home after the Christmas celebrations.

During peak hours from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, metro trains will operate at a frequency of 7 minutes to accommodate the surge in passengers. However, it is noted that the Salt Lake-Sector Five to Sealdah metro route will see fewer trains running on December 25. These comprehensive transport measures are in place to ensure that the city’s public transport network can handle the large volume of passengers expected during the holiday season.