Kolkata Metro To Add 19 Km By End Of 2026; Network To Span 130 Km In Coming Years

Kolkata Metro is on track for a major expansion, with 19 km of new routes to be added by end of 2026, according to Metro Railway General Manager Subhransu Mishra, Times of India reported.

Addressing media on Metro Railway's 41st foundation day at Esplanade station, Mishra added that Kolkata’s metro network would span 130 km in a few years — a major leap from its current length.

"Kolkata has a special place in the history of metro transportation in India. We started on Oct 24, 1984, with a 3.5-km stretch. Now we are around 72 km. Another 57 km is sanctioned. Out of this, 29 km is in progress. This year, we added 13 km to the metro network. By the end of 2026, another 19 km will be added by connecting Beleghata metro station with the airport," Mishra was quoted as saying by ToI.

"In 2029, 10 km will be added by connecting Mejerhat with Esplanade, and the airport with Michael Nagar. In the next few years, Kolkata will have around 130 km," Mishra added.

Kolkata metro, which is India’s first metro service, links the city’s central business district (CBD) with eastern Kolkata, and the city's southern and northern areas.

It also serves commuters from districts of North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah, and Hooghly.

The Kolkata Metro currently operates across five corridors — the 31-km Blue Line (New Garia–Dakshineswar), 16.6-km Green Line (Sector V–Howrah Maidan), 8-km Purple Line (Joka–Majerhat), 10-km Orange Line (New Garia–Metropolitan), and 6.7-km Yellow Line (Noapara–Airport).

Mishra added that the 32-km Orange Line is likely to be fully operational by December 2026.

Currently functional for 10 km between New Garia and Metropolitan, the corridor had missed its June 2025 target to reach Sector V due to the unavailability of a site at Chingrighata crossing.

He added that the 366-metre gap will be bridged, with girder-launching atop Chingrighata crossing scheduled over two weekend nights in mid-November.

With the completion of the Chingrighata section and the reopening of the Blue Line’s Kavi Subhash terminal, Kolkata Metro will achieve a citywide loop through its Blue, Orange, and Green corridors.

The Kavi Subhash station, closed since 28 July due to cracks in platform supporting piers, will be reconstructed within the next eight months, Mishra said.

Earlier this year, on 22 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi aunched 13 km of metro lines, including full operations of East-West Metro — India's first under-river metro.

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