Kolkata Metro's airport line likely to start running from March. Here is the latest update

Kolkata's long-awaited metro link to the airport is set to begin trial runs in December 2024, with full operations on the 7-kilometer stretch between Noapara and Jai Hind (airport) stations planned for March 2025. Metro Railway officials confirmed that the Noapara-Airport section marks Phase I of the Yellow Line, which will ultimately connect Barasat to Kolkata, a TOI report stated. Speaking at a meeting inside the airport metro premises on Tuesday, Metro Railway General Manager P. Uday Kumar Reddy reiterated the project's timeline, emphasizing that all efforts are focused on achieving the March 2025 target.

Officials assured Reddy that trial runs along the 4-kilometer segment between Dum Dum Cantonment and Jai Hind station will commence as planned in December. The adjoining 3-kilometer stretch between Noapara and Dum Dum Cantonment had undergone test runs last year and received the necessary safety clearances from the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS). Phase I of the Yellow Line has since been extended to include the airport.

Progress in Construction and Safety Preparations

A Metro Railway spokesperson stated, "Officials apprised the GM of the latest status of the Yellow Line's civil, electrical, and signal and telecommunications work." Devinder Kumar, Chief Engineer (Construction) of Metro Railway, informed that approximately 250 fire doors will be installed ahead of the trials to meet safety requirements.


Other construction milestones include the completion of staircases, platform flooring at Jai Hind station, and plans to begin the installation of travelators. "The firefighting system must be operational to secure fire safety approvals from the state fire services department," Reddy instructed during the review meeting.

Enhanced Connectivity for Kolkata Commuters

Once operational, the airport metro link will integrate seamlessly with Kolkata's existing metro network. Commuters will be able to access the airport through three key metro lines via the Noapara interchange:

Blue Line (New Garia-Dakshineswar) with a transfer at Esplanade to the Green Line (Howrah Maidan-Esplanade)
Orange Line (Ruby-New Garia) to Noapara, leading to the airport

This connectivity will provide residents across Kolkata, including the EM Bypass area, and travelers from the city’s fringes, a fast and efficient option to reach the airport. It will also ease transportation for passengers arriving in Kolkata, allowing them to bypass cab queues and directly access the metro network.

Looking Ahead

The operationalization of the airport metro link represents a crucial step in modernizing Kolkata's transport infrastructure, enhancing convenience for both residents and visitors. With the trial runs approaching and construction in its final stages, the March 2025 target appears well within reach, heralding a new chapter for urban mobility in the city.