Trial runs for Kolkata’s first metro line connecting the city to the airport are set to commence this December. The 7-kilometer stretch between Noapara and Jai Hind (airport) stations is part of the Yellow Line’s Phase I, which is slated for commissioning by March 2025, Metro Railway announced on Wednesday. Eventually, the Yellow Line will extend to Barasat, connecting it to Kolkata.
According to a report by Times of India, Metro Railway General Manager P. Uday Kumar Reddy inspected the airport metro premises on Tuesday and confirmed that operations on this segment would begin in March 2025. Officials assured him that the Dum Dum Cantonment–Jai Hind section, a 4-kilometer stretch, would be ready for trial runs by December 2024.
Test runs on the Noapara–Dum Dum Cantonment segment, spanning 3 kilometers, were conducted last year and received safety clearance from the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) for commercial operations. To enhance connectivity, Metro Railway has extended Phase I by an additional 4 kilometers to incorporate the airport, the report added.
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A Metro spokesperson revealed that General Manager Reddy was updated on the progress of civil, electrical, signaling, and telecommunications work for the Yellow Line. Chief Engineer (Construction) Devinder Kumar informed the GM that around 250 fire doors would be installed before the trials. Construction of staircases and platform flooring at Jai Hind station has been completed, and travelator installation will begin soon. The firefighting system is also under development to secure fire safety approval from the state fire services department.
Once operational, this airport metro link will transform connectivity for commuters. Travelers will be able to reach the airport through three metro lines via the Noapara interchange. The Blue Line (New Garia–Dakshineswar) will link to the East-West Metro (Green Line) via Esplanade, providing seamless access for passengers from the city’s southern and northern fringes.
Additionally, residents along the EM Bypass can use the Orange Line (Ruby–New Garia) to reach New Garia, transfer to Noapara, and proceed to the airport. This connectivity will enable passengers flying into Kolkata to travel conveniently across the city and suburbs without relying on cabs, revolutionizing urban transit.
