Kolkata Metro to run special pre-Puja services to handle extra rush

Kolkata: In a bid to cater to the heavy rush of Puja shoppers before the forthcoming Durga Puja, Kolkata Metro Railway has decided to run special pre-Puja services on Saturdays and Sundays, starting from next week.

On August 31, Metro service will start on 6:45 am and continue till 11.55 pm. The timing will be the same on every Saturday of September. On every Sunday of September, Metro services will start at 9 am and continue till 11.55 pm.

At present, 236 trains run on Saturdays, while 124 trains run on Sundays. There are 284 services including Up and Down trains between Dum Dum and Kavi Subhash stations. The number of services between Dum Dum and Noapara has been increased to 107 from 104.

Meanwhile, an escalator at Netaji Bhavan Metro station will be closed for repair from August 23 to September 20.

"Dismantling work of the old escalator from platform to mezzanine floor at the South end of Netaji Bhavan station will start at 11 pm on Friday. The escalator will be temporarily closed till the commissioning of the new escalator by 20.09.2019 (approx)," pointed out a press release issued by Kolkata Metro Railway.