Kolkata Metro has announced an increase in services on the East-West Corridor to support the Kolkata Book Fair, which will run from January 28 to February 9 at Salt Lake Central Park. Extra metro trains will be available between Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V (Green Line-1) to accommodate the surge in passengers traveling to the fair. This decision is part of efforts to manage the higher commuter volume during one of the city’s biggest cultural events.
From Monday to Saturday, 122 metro trains will run daily on this section, an increase from the usual 106. The metro will operate at a frequency of every 12 minutes from 2:05 PM to 9:15 PM to meet the demand generated by the Book Fair. This adjustment is intended to ease congestion and ensure smooth travel for those attending the event.
On Sundays, February 2 and 9, 74 metro trains will operate between Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. This includes 37 trains traveling towards Salt Lake Sector V and 37 traveling towards Sealdah. The Sunday services will run from 2:15 PM to 9:35 PM, maintaining the same 12-minute interval between trains. These extra services will cater to the weekend crowd attending the fair.
The first metro train from Sealdah to Salt Lake Sector V will depart at 6:55 AM, and the last metro will leave at 9:35 PM, as per the regular weekday schedule. The same timetable applies to trains from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah. On Sundays, the first train will depart from Sealdah at 2:15 PM, and the last one will leave Salt Lake Sector V at 9:35 PM.
Kolkata Metro regularly adjusts services during large-scale events like the Book Fair to accommodate higher passenger numbers. The expanded metro services are expected to provide a more comfortable travel experience for attendees, allowing for better access to the fairgrounds at Salt Lake Central Park.