Howrah Maidan–Sector V Metro to begin today, Kolkata commuters save over 1 hour travel time

The Howrah Maidan to Sector V Metro service has started operations, marking a major expansion of Kolkata’s East-West Metro. The corridor directly links Howrah, Sealdah, Esplanade, and the IT hub at Sector V, providing faster connectivity between the city’s two busiest railway stations and its commercial belt.

Daily passengers reported significant relief with the new service. Ramala Hajra, a regular commuter, said, “Earlier it used to take a lot of time. Now, with the Metro, I can reach my destination easily and quickly.” Soury Sarkar, an IT professional, said, “With the start of the Metro service, time will be saved and the journey has become smoother.” Travel time from Howrah to Sector V, which previously took up to two hours by bus or autos after multiple changes, is now reduced to around 35 minutes.

Metro officials expect daily ridership to rise substantially with this stretch, especially during peak hours, as thousands of office-goers from Howrah, Hooghly, and adjoining areas shift to the faster network. The new link is also expected to benefit passengers across Salt Lake and surrounding localities, improving access to employment hubs while easing dependence on surface transport.