Kolkata: In a landmark boost to urban mobility and regional connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated three new metro routes in Kolkata, while also laying the foundation stone for the six-lane elevated Kona Expressway — a ₹1,200-crore project that promises to transform road travel between Howrah and Kolkata.
Metro Expansion: A Game-Changer for Commuters
With the launch of the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar, Sealdah–Esplanade, and Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretches, Kolkata’s metro network gained 13.61 km of new track. The additions are expected to decongest crowded routes, improve last-mile connectivity, and slash travel times for lakhs of daily passengers.
14 km of network expansion.
7 new stations added to the metro network.
Important stations like Howrah and Sealdah added to the metro map.
Connectivity to the airport enhanced.
Truly a day of gladness for Kolkata today! pic.twitter.com/4qw1fKlP79
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 22, 2025
At Jessore Road Metro Station, the Prime Minister flagged off the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar line, giving the city its first-ever direct metro link to the airport — a demand pending for decades. Modi even took a short ride on the train, underscoring the project’s significance in bridging a critical urban gap.
Two more routes — Sealdah–Esplanade, which cuts travel time between the two hubs from 40 minutes to just 11, and the Beleghata–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay line, aimed at serving IT and business zones — were also inaugurated virtually. Additionally, a new subway at Howrah Metro Station was opened to streamline passenger movement at India’s busiest rail junction.
Network Growth & Commuter Impact
The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation announced that full services on the East-West Corridor between Sector V and Howrah Maidan (12 stations, 32 minutes end-to-end) commenced Friday evening. The newly introduced Yellow and Orange lines will roll out from Monday, though services will remain suspended on weekends — a move that has already sparked commuter complaints.
To support the expansion, feeder services like buses and autos will be realigned to run perpendicular to metro lines instead of parallel, reducing crowding at critical hubs such as Sealdah and Salt Lake.
Kona Expressway: ₹1,200-Crore Road Lifeline
Alongside the metro launches, Modi also laid the foundation for the 7.2-km six-lane elevated Kona Expressway, a key artery that currently carries more than 70,000 vehicles daily. Once completed, the corridor — part of NH-12 — will provide faster access between Howrah, Kolkata and adjoining rural belts, while also improving freight movement to the Kolkata Port.
Officials said the project would ease traffic bottlenecks, cut travel times, and offer a big boost to trade, tourism, and business across southern Bengal.
Symbol of Growth
The day’s twin announcements — spanning air, rail and road connectivity — mark one of the largest infrastructure pushes for West Bengal in recent years. With metro services extending to the airport and a new highway corridor in the works, Kolkata’s mobility landscape is set for a dramatic transformation.
