Commercial operation on the stretch started on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on March 6.

The number of passengers on the first day in this 4.8-km underground stretch between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade was 70,204, the official said. He said that out of these, 23,444 persons boarded at Howrah Maidan, while 20,923 passengers boarded at Howrah, which is the deepest metro station in India. Mahakaran and Esplanade metro stations recorded 13,453 and 12,384 originating passengers, respectively, on the first day, the official said.