Kolkata, Oct 8 (IANS) Metro Railway, Kolkata, will run night-long services on its Blue and Green Lines during Durga Puja, and will also extend services on its Purple, Yellow, and Orange Lines.
This is being done to allow Puja revellers to visit pandals across the city more comfortably. Commuting time between pandals will also be reduced.
The night-long services will be operated on Maha Saptami (Oct. 17), Maha Ashtami (Oct. 18) and Maha Navami (Oct. 19).
On Maha Panchami (Oct. 15) and Maha Sashti (Oct. 16), services on the Blue and Green Lines will start at 6 a.m. and continue until 11 p.m.
“In the Blue Line (Garia to Dakshineswar), 284 services will be run each day on Maha Panchami and Maha Sashti. Trains will run at six-minute intervals during peak hours. In the Green Line (Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V), 240 services will be run,” a Metro Railway official said.
On Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami, 248 services will be run on the Blue Line from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning. Trains will run every six minutes during peak rush hours.
The Green Line will operate 192 services. Operations will start at 1.30 p.m. and end at 3.59 a.m. the following morning.
On the Yellow Line (Airport to Noapara), services will run between 7.18 a.m. and 9.20 p.m. on Maha Panchami and Maha Sashti. On Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami, trains will run between 3 p.m. and 10.53 p.m. on this stretch.
The Purple Line between Joka and Majerhat will operate services from 6.40 a.m. to 9.26 p.m. on Maha Panchami and Maha Sashti. On the next three days, services will run from 3 p.m. to 10.55 p.m.
The Orange Line from Garia to Beliaghata will have trains running from 7.40 a.m. until 8.45 p.m. on Maha Panchami and Maha Sashti. There will be no services on this stretch for the following four days.
Metro Railway has also advised passengers to purchase smart cards or book tickets through the AAMAR KOLKATA METRO app to avoid crowds at booking counters.
“As there will be a large number of services for commuters at six-minute intervals on the Blue and Green Lines during peak hours, commuters are requested not to overcrowd trains or try to block the doors. Please wait for the next train and co-operate with us so that services can be operated smoothly,” the official said.
Metro Railway has earlier announced additional services during the weekends leading up to Durga Puja for the benefit of shoppers.
“Shopping is an essential part of Durga Puja, and people do not get the opportunity to do so during weekdays. Hence, these additional services are being run during the weekends,” the official added.
–IANS
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