Kolkata Metro & Railways to run special late-night services for IPL match at Eden Gardens

Kolkata Metro and Eastern Railway have announced special late-night train services to manage the rush of cricket fans attending the Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL match at Eden Gardens on Saturday. Eastern Railway will operate two additional trains post-match—one departing Prinsep Ghat at 11:50 PM, reaching Barasat at 1:00 AM, and another from BBD Bagh at 12:00 AM, reaching Baruipur at 1:32 AM. These services will also be available on April 22, May 23, and May 25, with more trains to be introduced if required.

Kolkata Metro has also arranged extra metro services to assist spectators in returning home. A special metro will operate at 12:15 AM from Esplanade to Dakshineswar and Kavi Subhash, providing north-south connectivity. Another metro will run from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan at the same time, offering extended service for commuters traveling westward. Regular metro operations usually end earlier, but these additional services are being introduced exclusively for IPL match days to accommodate the late-night crowd.

Railway and metro authorities have confirmed that these services aim to prevent congestion and ensure efficient crowd dispersal from Eden Gardens. "The special trains and metro services will help manage the increased passenger flow post-match," a railway official stated. Authorities have also advised passengers to plan their travel accordingly and use these extended services for convenience.