Durga Puja: Kolkata Metro runs till 4 am on Blue, Green lines from October 17 to 20
Representative image: thilina_alagiyawanna / Pixabay
Kolkata Metro runs Blue and Green Line trains from 1 pm to 4 am on October 17-20, 2026 for Durga Puja, after heavy crowding on stations was reported on October 16.
What Happened
Kolkata Metro begins night-long services for Durga Puja on Saturday, October 17, 2026, running trains on its Blue Line and Green Line from 1 pm until 4 am the next morning every day until October 20. On the Blue Line, 248 trips a day are planned, 124 in each direction, with trains every six minutes at peak times. The extended hours come after reports of severe crowding on the network on Friday, October 16, when passengers packed trains and stations as pandal-hopping began in earnest.
Key Facts
- Night-long Metro services run on the Blue and Green lines from 1 pm to 4 am the following morning, from October 17 to October 20, 2026.
- The Blue Line will run 248 services a day during this period, 124 in each direction, at a peak frequency of six minutes.
- The last train from Dakshineswar to Shahid Khudiram leaves at 3:46 am.
- Extra trains leave at 4 am from Shahid Khudiram towards Dum Dum and from Dakshineswar towards Mahanayak Uttam Kumar.
- On Dashami, October 21, the Blue Line will run 140 services, 70 each way, from 1 pm to 10:30 pm.
- Special Puja services have been planned on several Metro corridors between October 15 and 21.
- On October 16, crowding was so heavy that passengers were reported packed into trains, according to reports.
Why It Matters
During Durga Puja, visitors in Kolkata go from one pandal to the next late into the night. The Metro links the north and south of the city and lets travellers avoid road traffic during the festival. Running trains until 4 am means people can stay out for the late-night lights and still get home without hunting for a taxi.
The crowding reported on October 16 is a warning for the next four days. With the busiest days of the festival still ahead, stations near major pandals are likely to be even more crowded. A six-minute frequency on the Blue Line helps, but it does not remove the risk of long queues, closed entry gates and packed platforms at peak hours, typically in the evening.
For travellers, the timing details matter. The night service starts at 1 pm, not in the morning, so those planning to visit pandals early in the day should check the regular timetable for their line. The last trains near 4 am are spaced out, so missing the 3:46 am departure from Dakshineswar means waiting for the 4 am extras on specific routes.
| Date (2026) | Blue Line hours | Blue Line services |
|---|---|---|
| October 17 to 20 | 1 pm to 4 am next morning | 248 a day (124 each way) |
| October 21 (Dashami) | 1 pm to 10:30 pm | 140 (70 each way) |
Impact
Short-term: Visitors can travel across Kolkata through the night for four nights. Expect very heavy crowds at stations close to famous pandals, especially in the evening; travel light, keep a Metro card or smart token ready, and allow extra time for entry and exit.
Long-term: How smoothly the Metro handles this year's crowds will shape planning for future festivals, including how many trains to run, which stations need extra staff, and whether newer lines can share more of the load.
Who is affected: Pandal-hoppers and families in Kolkata and its suburbs, visitors arriving from other states for the Pujas, Metro staff and police managing crowds, and shop owners near stations who depend on late-night footfall.
Key Takeaway
From October 17 to 20, 2026, Kolkata Metro's Blue and Green lines run from 1 pm to 4 am for Durga Puja, but after the October 16 crush, travellers should plan around peak crowds and the last trains.
Questions and Answers
What are the Kolkata Metro Durga Puja timings for 2026?
From October 17 to 20, the Blue and Green lines run from 1 pm until 4 am the next morning. On October 21 (Dashami), the Blue Line runs from 1 pm to 10:30 pm.
How often will Blue Line trains run during the Puja nights?
The Blue Line will run 248 services a day, 124 in each direction, with a train every six minutes at peak times.
When is the last Metro train during the night service?
The last train from Dakshineswar to Shahid Khudiram leaves at 3:46 am. Additional trains leave at 4 am from Shahid Khudiram to Dum Dum and from Dakshineswar to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar.
Was the Metro crowded at the start of the Pujas?
Yes. On October 16, passengers were reported packed into trains and stations, according to reports, before the night-long services began.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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