Kolkata Metro Update: Services on Howrah Maidan-Esplanade stretch to be rescheduled from Monday – Check new timings here

Metro Railways Kolkata announced on Sunday that the schedule for the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade metro route will be “rescheduled and revised” from November 11 onwards to accommodate construction in the tunnel between Esplanade and Sealdah. In an official statement, Metro Railways indicated that service adjustments are needed to ensure the safety and progress of the construction work. The adjustments will impact both weekday and Sunday schedules.

Weekday Service Changes

Starting November 11, metro services in the west-bound tunnel will operate between Howrah Maidan and Mahakaran stations, rather than Howrah Maidan and Esplanade. This change will apply during working hours on weekdays, from 6:55 am to 10 pm, allowing for safe construction operations in the Esplanade-Sealdah tunnel. East-bound tunnel services will continue their regular route from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade during the same hours.

To accommodate the adjustments, the number of services on weekdays will increase significantly, with 150 services operating along the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade route instead of the current 118.

Sunday Schedule Adjustments

On Sundays, metro services in the east-bound tunnel will run from 2:15 pm to 9:50 pm, as per the revised schedule. The west-bound tunnel services will remain inactive on Sundays, and the total number of Sunday services will stay at 46.

Construction Challenges and Precautions

The construction between Esplanade and Sealdah has faced repeated challenges, including a recent leakage on September 5 in the East-West Metro’s under-construction tunnel at Bowbazar. This was the fourth such incident since August 2019. Metro officials are intensifying efforts to strengthen the tunnel structure and prevent further issues.

Inspection and Future Plans

On Saturday, Metro Railway General Manager P Uday Kumar Reddy inspected the ongoing construction work. He instructed teams to prioritize safety and expedite efforts to complete the tunnel between Sealdah and Esplanade. Once the construction is finalized, it will pave the way for launching services on the Howrah Maidan-Salt Lake Sector V stretch, a critical extension in Kolkata’s expanding metro network.

With the temporary rescheduling, the Kolkata Metro aims to balance the pressing needs of the construction project with the convenience and safety of passengers, ensuring minimal disruption during this essential development phase.