Kolkata Metro halts late-night trains, passengers face new challenges

From tommorow onwards, Kolkata Metro commuters will face a major setback as the authorities have decided to discontinue the late-night train service on the Blue Line (Shahid Khudiram-Dakshineshwar) from Monday to Friday, ending a crucial lifeline for late-night travelers. The decision, announced today, affects the North-South Corridor, leaving only weekend services intact. This move reverses a hard-won victory from a 2024 Kolkata High Court petition that extended metro hours to benefit office-goers returning home late. While the metro authorities cite the availability of alternative transport options as the reason, unions point to a shortage of rakes and drivers, sparking frustration among passengers who rely on the service for safe and affordable commutes.

The Kolkata Metro’s Blue Line has become indispensable for thousands, stretching beyond the city to suburban hubs like Dumdum and Dakshineshwar. The late-night service, introduced last year after a public interest litigation, was a game-changer for workers, students, and others navigating Kolkata’s limited nighttime transport options.The metro authorities’ rationale for halting the service centers on the availability of alternative transport modes, such as buses and app-based cabs. However, this explanation has met with skepticism, as these options often come with higher costs, safety concerns, or inconsistent availability, particularly late at night. For many, the metro’s affordability and reliability were unmatched, especially for suburban residents commuting to and from Kolkata.

The decision to maintain the 10:40 PM service on Saturdays and Sundays offers some relief, but it does little to ease the burden on weekday commuters who form the bulk of the metro’s late-night ridership.Metro unions have painted a different picture, attributing the suspension to operational constraints rather than the presence of alternatives. They claim a shortage of rakes (train coaches) and trained drivers has made it impossible to sustain the late-night service. This revelation points to deeper infrastructural challenges within the Kolkata Metro, which has struggled to keep pace with growing demand despite its expansion.

The unions’ allegations have fueled public discontent, with commuters questioning why these issues were not addressed before scrapping a service that had become a cornerstone of late-night travel.The suspension comes at a time when Kolkata’s public transport system is under pressure to meet the needs of a rapidly growing urban and suburban population. The Blue Line’s role in connecting far-flung areas has made it a critical part of daily life, and the loss of the late-night service could disrupt the routines of thousands, from office workers to healthcare professionals. Social media platforms are buzzing with commuter frustration, with many calling for the decision to be reconsidered or for immediate steps to address the rake and driver shortages. The move has also reignited debates about the city’s transport infrastructure and its ability to support a 24/7 economy.

As Kolkata navigates this change, the focus is on how commuters will adapt and whether the metro authorities will respond to the backlash. The partial retention of weekend services offers a glimmer of hope, but the weekday suspension is a significant blow to those who relied on the metro’s predictability. With no clear timeline for resolving the operational issues, passengers are left to seek costlier or less reliable alternatives. The controversy underscores the need for better planning and investment in Kolkata’s metro system to ensure it meets the demands of its growing ridership.