10 night surcharge on 10.40pm metro tickets from today
Times of India | 1 January 2025
123 Kolkata: From New Year, Metro Railway will be levying a Rs 10 surcharge on every ticket for commuters using the Dum Dum-New Garia night service, irrespective of the distance traversed.
The carrier announced on Tuesday that "From Jan 1, Rs 10 shall be levied as surcharge for the special night services operated both ways of the Blue line from Kavi Subhash (New Garia) and Dum Dum at 10.40 pm since occupancy of these services have been exceedingly low." "The surcharge will be added on every ticket for both the special night services operated," the statement added.New Year SpecialUnbelievable! 2025's most powerful zodiac predictions are here50+ Happy New Year 2025 Wishes & Quotes to share joy and cheerNumerology 1-9: What the numbers hold for us next year"The surcharge is being implemented on a trial basis and the decision will be reviewed in due course," a Metro Railway official said.
Consequently, passengers paying Rs 5 for travelling just one stop or the minimum 2 km will need to pay Rs 15 . Likewise, those paying Rs 25 for a a ride between New Garia and Dum Dum will be charged Rs 35.
On Dec 1, Metro Railway had announced that commuters taking the ‘night' train would need to pay the additional Rs 10 from Dec 10. However, the decision was postponed at the final moment. The special Metro service was introduced on May 24, 2024. From June 24, the last train timing was advanced by 20 minutes because of ‘low' passenger count. Six months later, on Dec 1, Metro reiterated that "occupancy of the special Metro services run at 10.40 pm from New Garia to Dum Dum is exceedingly low".
Payel Das, who takes the 10.40 pm train from Esplanade to reach New Garia, said, "It is unfortunate that a public utility should keep harping on the low footfall issue. I don't mind paying the extra Rs 10, provided they don't withdraw it on the pretext of low footfall."