Kolkata metro for visitors

India's first metro is still the quickest way between the airport, Howrah and most of the sights, provided you know which line serves which station.

imptkolkata.in editorial team · Reviewed 3 November 2026

Short answer

The Kolkata metro runs on several lines, three of which matter most to visitors. The Blue Line covers Park Street, Esplanade, Kalighat and Dakshineswar. The Green Line links Howrah with Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake. The Yellow Line reaches the airport. Tokens, smart cards and QR tickets are sold at stations. First and last trains change, so check Metro Railway Kolkata.

Which metro line goes where?

Kolkata's metro opened in 1984 as India's first, and the network now covers several lines with more under construction. Visitors normally use three of them. The Blue Line runs north to south from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash through the centre. The Green Line crosses the Hooghly from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. The Yellow Line reaches the airport at Dum Dum. Purple and Orange lines are partly open and still growing.

Line names on maps are colour-coded, and station signage uses both colours and numbers. Interchanges matter more than distance: Esplanade connects the Blue and Green lines, which is the usual route between Howrah and the central sights. Kalighat, Rabindra Sadan and Park Street all sit on the Blue Line. Because extensions open in stages, treat any printed map as provisional and confirm the current network with Metro Railway Kolkata before planning a tight connection.

Blue Line: Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash, north to south through Esplanade, Park Street and Kalighat.
Green Line: Howrah Maidan under the river to Esplanade, Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V.
Yellow Line: Reaches Jai Hind Bimanbandar, the station serving the airport at Dum Dum.
Purple and Orange: Partly open sections; check the current map for the stations in service.
Interchange: Esplanade is the main change point between the Blue and Green lines.

Blue Line stations for the sights

Most of the classic sights sit within walking distance of a Blue Line station. Maidan and Rabindra Sadan serve the [Victoria Memorial](/things-to-do/victoria-memorial/) and the open ground around it. Park Street puts you on the restaurant stretch and within reach of the South Park Street Cemetery. Esplanade covers New Market and the edge of BBD Bagh. Central and M.G. Road are the stops for [College Street](/things-to-do/college-street-and-indian-coffee-house/). Kalighat serves the temple of the same name, and the line ends at Dakshineswar beside its riverside temple.

North Kolkata needs a little more thought. Girish Park is the nearest station to [Jorasanko Thakurbari](/things-to-do/jorasanko-thakurbari/), Tagore's family home, and Sovabazar Sutanuti is the closest stop to [Kumartuli](/things-to-do/kumartuli/), the potters' quarter. Shyambazar suits the older streets around the crossing and the route to Marble Palace. Allow time above ground: exits can be several minutes' walk from the gate you want, and signage is not aimed at visitors. Ask at the counter if an exit is unclear.

Victoria Memorial: Use Maidan or Rabindra Sadan, both on the Blue Line.
Park Street: Restaurants, Allen Park and the South Park Street Cemetery.
College Street: Central or M.G. Road for the book market and Indian Coffee House.
Jorasanko: Girish Park for Tagore's family home, now a museum.
Kumartuli: Sovabazar Sutanuti, then a short walk to the potters' lanes.
Dakshineswar: The northern terminus of the Blue Line, beside the Kali temple.

What does the Green Line connect?

The Green Line, also called East-West, is the one that crosses the river. It starts at Howrah Maidan on the west bank, calls at Howrah railway station, and passes under the Hooghly through a tunnel that opened in 2024 before reaching Esplanade. From there it runs on to Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. For anyone staying in the centre, it turns Howrah into a short hop rather than a taxi ride.

The river tunnel is a sight in itself for anyone interested in engineering. Practical points matter more than the novelty. Howrah and Howrah Maidan are separate stations serving the same railway terminus area, so check which one you need. Sealdah is useful for suburban and long-distance trains, and Sector V puts Salt Lake's offices within reach. Confirm the current service pattern with Metro Railway Kolkata, because East-West working has been extended in stages.

Reaching the airport by metro

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum is served by Jai Hind Bimanbandar station on the Yellow Line. That line is only partly open and services are expanding, so the connection described on an old map may not match what runs on the day. Confirm current stations and hours with Metro Railway Kolkata, and allow a buffer if you are catching a flight. The airport sits about 17 km north-east of the centre.

Where the metro does not reach your terminal directly, the fallback is a taxi or an app cab. By road the centre is roughly 45 to 75 minutes away depending on traffic, and Salt Lake or New Town 20 to 40 minutes. Early mornings are quicker. If your flight leaves before the first train, plan on road transport. On arrival the same applies in reverse: check the time of the last service before choosing the metro.

Tokens, cards and QR tickets

Tickets are simple once you are inside a station. Single journeys are sold as plastic tokens at counters and machines: tap the token at the gate, keep it, and drop it into the slot on the way out. Smart cards suit repeat journeys and avoid queues. QR tickets bought on a phone are accepted at many stations. Fares depend on distance, so check the current fare at the counter rather than relying on an old figure.

Queues at Esplanade, Park Street and Howrah are longest in the morning and early evening. Machines take coins and notes, though change can run short at busy times. Keep the token visible until you are through the exit gate, and never pass it to anyone outside. Security checks at the entrance are routine, with bags scanned. Allow a few minutes beyond the journey time for the queue and the bag scan, especially at Esplanade.

Token: A single-journey plastic token, tapped in and dropped at the exit.
Smart card: A stored-value card for regular journeys, bought and topped up at counters.
QR ticket: Bought on a phone and scanned at the gate where supported.
Fare by distance: The amount depends on how far you travel; check the current fare at the station.

Rush hours and ladies' seats

The metro is busiest on weekday mornings and again between about five and eight in the evening, when offices and schools empty. Trains are frequent, but the first one through may already be full, particularly at Kalighat, Park Street and Esplanade. Mid-morning and early afternoon are calmer, and Sunday is lighter than weekdays. If a crowded train passes, wait for the next one: the headway is short, and the platform is a better place to stand than a doorway.

Each train has seats reserved for women, and a women-only compartment is standard on the network. Those markings are respected by other passengers, so follow them. Older travellers and people with children are usually offered a seat. Photography inside stations is restricted in places, and filming may need permission. Not every station has escalators or lifts, and some exits involve stairs, which matters if you are carrying a heavy bag. Arrive early at the platform if you are travelling with luggage.

Planning a journey on the metro

The metro works best for medium distances in the centre, where road traffic makes journey times unpredictable. It is less useful for short hops between neighbouring areas, where walking is often quicker. Planning is straightforward: find the nearest station at each end, check whether a change at Esplanade is needed, and add ten minutes for stairs, security and platform walks. Station names may not match the landmark you want, so note the street as well.

Aim to travel outside the peaks if you can, and keep the return leg in mind: the last trains leave earlier than many visitors expect. Announcements are made in Bengali and English, and station signs carry both scripts. If you are heading to a specific sight, combine the metro with a short walk or an auto-rickshaw on a fixed route. [Yellow taxis](/blogs/yellow-taxis-and-app-cabs/), buses and the Hooghly ferries fill the gaps the network leaves.

Where the metro does not go

Several places a visitor may want are not on a metro line. The [Botanic Garden](/things-to-do/botanic-garden-shibpur/) at Shibpur, across the river, is normally reached by ferry or road. Prinsep Ghat and the Strand have no station of their own. [Eco Park](/things-to-do/eco-park/) in New Town and the Chinese restaurants of [Tangra](/things-to-do/tangra-chinatown/) need a taxi or a bus from the nearest stop. Plan these as road journeys and use the metro for the trunk of the trip rather than the whole of it.

Hours, interchange arrangements and the opening of new sections all change from year to year, and maps printed in the city lag behind. Treat the metro as one part of a mixed transport system, alongside taxis, app cabs, buses, auto-rickshaws and the river ferries. Confirm the current network with Metro Railway Kolkata before relying on a route you have not travelled, particularly for an airport run or a train connection at Howrah or Sealdah.

FAQ

Which Kolkata metro line is best for the Victoria Memorial?

The Blue Line. Use Maidan or Rabindra Sadan station, both a short walk from the memorial's gates on the Maidan. Rabindra Sadan also suits the surrounding cultural buildings, while Maidan station puts you closer to the southern approach. The museum inside the memorial closes on Mondays and some national holidays, so check Victoria Memorial Hall before setting out.

Does the Kolkata metro reach the airport?

Jai Hind Bimanbandar station on the Yellow Line serves Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The Yellow Line is only partly open and services are expanding, so confirm current stations and timings with Metro Railway Kolkata before you rely on it. If the metro does not fit your flight time, app cabs and yellow taxis cover the 17 km to the centre.

How do you pay for a Kolkata metro journey?

Single journeys use plastic tokens bought from counters or machines: tap in, keep the token, and drop it at the exit. Smart cards work for repeat trips and cut queueing. QR tickets bought on a phone are accepted at many stations. Fares depend on distance, so check the current fare at the counter rather than carrying an old figure.

Which Kolkata metro station serves Howrah railway station?

Howrah station on the Green Line sits at the railway terminus, and Howrah Maidan is a separate station nearby on the same line. From either, trains run under the Hooghly to Esplanade in the centre, then on to Sealdah and Salt Lake Sector V. Check Metro Railway Kolkata for the current service pattern before planning a tight rail connection.

Is the Kolkata metro crowded at rush hour?

Yes. Weekday mornings and roughly five to eight in the evening are the busiest, when offices, schools and colleges empty. Trains are frequent, but the first through may be full, particularly at Kalighat, Park Street and Esplanade. Travelling mid-morning or early afternoon is calmer. Wait for the next train rather than pushing into a doorway.

Which Kolkata metro stop is nearest College Street?

Central and M.G. Road on the Blue Line are the practical stops for College Street and the book market known as Boi Para. The two stations serve different stretches of the street, so pick the one nearer your destination. Both involve a short walk through heavy traffic, so allow extra time and cross with care.

Can you get to Dakshineswar temple by Kolkata metro?

Yes. Dakshineswar is the northern terminus of the Blue Line, and the temple is close to the station. The same line runs south through Shyambazar, Esplanade, Park Street and Kalighat, which makes it the simplest route between the temple and the centre. Belur Math, across the river, is a short ferry or road journey away.

What time does the Kolkata metro start and finish?

First and last train times differ by line and change with the timetable, so check Metro Railway Kolkata for the day you travel rather than relying on a guide. Services generally begin in the early morning and stop well before midnight, with different hours on Sundays and holidays. Plan airport runs and late arrivals with a road fallback.

Which Kolkata metro stations serve Jorasanko and Kumartuli?

Girish Park on the Blue Line is the nearest station to Jorasanko Thakurbari, Tagore's family home and now a museum. Sovabazar Sutanuti, one stop north, is the closest stop to Kumartuli, the potters' quarter where Durga idols are made. Both involve short walks through North Kolkata streets, so allow time to find the entrances.