Commercial services for Sealdah-Esplanade section likely from 22 August
The Statesman | 20 August 2025
Commuters in the city could enjoy a ride between Howrah Maidan and Sector V in a metro this Friday. Commercial services in the remaining leg of the East-West metro corridor between Sealdah and Esplanade are likely to begin from 22 August, the day the Prime Minister will inaugurate the services.
The commercial runs in the other two stretches including the sections between Noapara and Jai Hind Biman Bandar of the Yellow Line and Beleghata-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay of the Orange Line are anticipated to begin from 25 August.
After the commencement of the commercial runs, services in the East-West Metro would be run at an interval of eight minutes during peak hours instead of the present 12 minutes. Likewise, services in the Noapara and Jai Hind Biman Bandar could be operated at an interval of 15 minutes.
Notably, amid the buzz around the opening of the 14 km of metro networks, including the three sections, a lot of enthusiasm and curiosity has been noticed among the commuters. A fare chart has come to the fore including the amount to be charged for various sections. According to the chart, a commute between Noapara and Jai Hind Biman Bandar would cost Rs 20 with Rs five being the minimum fare which would be charged for a ticket till the next station at Jessore Road Metro station. For enjoying a ride between airport and Howrah station, commuters would have to shell out Rs 50 while for airport and Esplanade, the ticket fare is Rs 40.
Meanwhile, the city metro is carrying out full-swing preparations for the upcoming mega event this Friday. From cleaning and decorating, various metro stations are being readied for the inaugural ceremony. Some new rakes are also said to have arrived and been added to the present for the upcoming commercial runs which is anticipated to increase the passenger count considerably.