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As the vibrant lights of Kali Puja & Diwali illuminate Kolkata's streets on October 20, the Kolkata metro is gearing up with tailored services to ensure devotees and families can immerse themselves in the festivities without the hassle of midnight scrambles home. Drawing from the successful record of Durga Puja, authorities are rolling out strategic adjustments prioritizing crowd control while extending crucial late-night options on the bustling Blue Line—last trains pushing to 11 PM to whisk huge crowd safely back home. This isn't just about running trains; it's a thoughtful nod to the spirit of the festival, blending devotion with dependable transit amid an expected surge of passengers that could test even the most efficient networks.
Diving into the details, the Blue Line from Shaheed Khudiram to Dakshineswar steals the spotlight with its extended runs, kicking off later in the morning at around 7-8 AM but stretching the final departures to 10:51 PM and 11:00 PM— a generous hour-plus beyond the usual services. In contrast, Green line route from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector Five stick to standard schedules with no extensions, maintaining a steady flow from 6:30 AM to 9:45 PM but slashing daily trains from 226 to 124 to keep platforms from overflowing. These measures reflects a smart balance: fewer services overall to manage the festive frenzy, yet enough coverage to connect neighborhoods alive with rituals, music, and midnight feasts.
For airport-bound travelers or those on peripheral routes, the news is more restrained—the Yellow Line to Jay Hind Airport and Purple Line from Joka to Majerhat will wrap up unusually early at around 5:30-6 PM, with morning starts delayed until 10 AM, cutting trains strategically to sidestep peak-hour chaos. Similarly, the Orange Line mirrors this cautious approach, operating just 40 trains with services from late morning to mid-evening upto. While these changes might require some pre-planning for outlying commuters, they underscore the metro's commitment to smooth, safe journeys during one of Bengal's most electrifying celebrations, ensuring the focus stays on joy rather than logistics