Commuters in Kolkata faced immense hardship on Vishwakarma Puja after a technical glitch brought the metro service on the Green Line to a complete standstill for over an hour. The disruption, which occurred during the morning rush hour, affected the entire stretch from Howrah Maidan to Sector Five. The situation was compounded by the fact that fewer buses and autos were plying on the roads due to the festive holiday, making the metro a primary mode of transport for many.
Although the state government had declared a public holiday for Vishwakarma Puja, numerous private companies remained open. Consequently, a large number of daily commuters were on their way to work, relying heavily on the metro service. However, their plans were thwarted when the Green Line experienced a technical issue at around 10:35 AM. The sudden halt in service left passengers stranded inside metro coaches and on the platforms.
The disruption was particularly frustrating for commuters as the metro authorities did not provide a specific reason for the breakdown. Passengers were left in the dark about the nature of the problem and the expected time for the resumption of services. This lack of communication added to the chaos and frustration, as people scrambled to find alternative ways to reach their destinations.
The metro stations quickly became overcrowded as more passengers arrived, only to find the services non-operational. Given the limited availability of other public transport options on the holiday, many had no choice but to wait. The long wait and uncertainty led to a growing sense of anger and frustration among the stranded commuters, who questioned the reliability of the newly inaugurated metro line.
Partial services were eventually restored at around 11:48 AM, but the full service had not yet resumed at the time of reporting. The incident is a major concern, as it occurred within just a month of the line's inauguration. This raises serious questions about the maintenance and operational efficiency of the new metro line, which is a vital link between Howrah and Salt Lake.