Kolkata Metro to extend services in bid to tackle North Kolkata rush

Kolkata: With buses not being allowed to ply on Talla Bridge, Kolkata Metro Railway has decided to extend its services to cater to the rush of daily commuters in North Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja.

"We have already increased four services (2 Up and 2 Down) up to Noapara. More Metro services from Noapara are being planned," said P C Sharma, general manager of Kolkata Metro Railway.

In a bid to offer better services to the commuters, Kolkata Metro Railway has been running additional pre-Puja services on Saturdays and Sundays. At present, they are running 284 services on Saturdays instead of the normal 236 services from August 31 (48 additional services).

This apart, minimum 30 services and maximum 84 services have increased on Sundays from September 1. From September 26, four additional services are being provided on weekdays before Puja.

Metro will run 288 services on Chaturthi, Panchami and Shasthi. 244 services will be run on Saptami (October 5), Ashtami (October 6) and Nabami (October 7). During this period, Metro services will be available from 1 pm to 4 am. On Dashami (October 8), 132 services will be run from 1 pm to 10 pm.

"We will also try to run more number of AC trains to provide better comfort to our passengers during the Durga Puja days," pointed out Sharma.

Anticipating the rush, Kolkata Metro Railway has also made elaborate security arrangements during Durga Puja.

To keep track of the eve-teasers, additional number of RPF officials (including lady officers) will be deployed at Dum Dum, Sovabazar Sutanuti, Kalighat and other crowded Metro stations.

'May I Help You' RPF booths will be available at stations to guide the commuters, while short films on Passenger Awareness will be shown through platform TVs at different stations.