E-W’s Esplanade trains every 10 mins, 20-min gap likely for Majerhat & Ruby
Times of India | 5 March 2024
Kolkata: Trains will be available at a maximum frequency of 10 minutes or a minimum of 12 minutes during rush hours along East-West Metro’s Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section. For non-peak hours, the gap could be 15 minutes. Services in the Joka-Majerhat section of the Purple line are likely to be doubled to 48 and will run at 20-minute intervals. The schedule for the New Garia-Ruby section of the Orange line could also have 48 services — 24 in each direction — at 20-minute intervals.
These are some operational schemes Metro Railway is working on.On Wednesday, PM Narendra Modi will flag off three Metro lines, linking Kolkata with Howrah, and launching important hubs, like Esplanade, Howrah station, Majerhat railway station and Bypass.
Additionally, commuters who wish to travel across different Metro lines on a single token can go from Howrah Maidan to Ruby for just Rs 50, Metro Railway said on Monday. TOI had on Feb 19 reported the entire integrated fare structure for the East-West, North-South and New Garia-Ruby lines.
The first East-West trains are likely to start at 6.30am or 7am from Howrah Maidan and Esplanade. Services may go on till 9.30pm, sources said. “But the timetable is yet to be finalized,” they said. During peak hours, or from 9am to 11am and from 5pm to 8pm, trains may be available every 10 or 12 minutes. For the rest of the day, trains will run at 15-minute gaps.
With the launch of Majerhat station on the Joka-Esplanade Metro corridor on Wednesday, services are likely to double. From 24 services between 8.55am and 4.40pm at 40-minute intervals, there will be 48 services at 20-minute gaps. “Fare should remain Rs 20 even though one can travel 9km instead of 6.5km,” said an official. Matching frequencies are being worked out for the New Garia-Ruby section and its operation hours may be 9am to 4.40pm.