Airport hub, six more stations all set to redefine Kol’s metro commute experience
Times of India | 21 August 2025
Kolkata: The city is set to get seven new metro stations, including the pivotal Jai Hind station at the airport, and a stabling yard 13m below the century-old NSCB airport. Jai Hind is among Asia's largest underground metro stations and is connected to the airport via a 270m tunnel.
The metro station spans 29,000 sqm, encompassing the concourse and five platforms. Initially, platforms 1 and 2 will be operational, while platforms 3, 4, and 5 are designated for the Orange Line (New Garia-Airport corridor), which will intersect with the Yellow Line at the airport. The upcoming hub station within the airport premises serves as a linkage for three corridors and features five accesses, connecting all corners of the airport complex and Jessore Road. Two walkalators have been installed in the 270mX13m tunnel to assist travellers carrying luggage. Another subway, measuring 330mX10.5m, opens to Jessore Road, facilitating easy access for passengers from Birati, Barasat, Madhyamgram, and other areas of North 24 Parganas. Approximately 300m from the metro station is the stabling yard for rakes, covering 17,497sqm and comprising seven lines.
The 7km Noapara-Airport or Yellow Line includes two additional stations: Jessore Road, constructed at grade on the surface, and Dum Dum Cantonment, an elevated station near Eastern Railway's Bongaon-Sealdah section. An ER official stated: "Jessore Road station is an at grade level metro station of the Yellow Line that will come to the aid of scores of Eastern Railway passengers.
" He added that, like Dum Dum Cantonment station, Jessore Road station was part of integrating the old Circular Railway line. Dum Dum Cantonment station features four accesses leading to areas such as Subhas Nagar and the foot overbridge of Dum Dum Cantonment railway station, allowing passengers direct access to the mezzanine floor.
Four additional metro stations, part of the truncated Orange Line's or New Garia-Airport corridor's Ruby-Metropolitan section, are also ready to be operational. These stations – VIP Bazar, Ritwik Ghatak at Topsia, Barun Sengupta at Science City, and Beleghata at Metropolitan on EM Bypass – offer superior facilities, spacious interiors, two elevated platforms each, escalators, lifts, and ample indoor space.
VIP Bazar station is equipped with eight escalators and four lifts to transport passengers to the elevated platforms. It also houses four ticket counters, six benches, and a first-aid room. Barun Sengupta and Beleghata stations have attractive exteriors and sprawling layouts on the eastern side of EM Bypass, offering excellent views from atop the Maa flyover. Each station includes eight escalators, three lifts, eight staircases, four ticket counters, six sitting benches, and a first-aid room. Additionally, approximately 1,000sqm at each of these two stations are available for commercial development.