Kolkata Metro Introduces Rs 10 Surcharge for Last Train Starting January 1, 2025
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Kolkata, Dec 31 (NationPress) Commuters utilizing the special ‘last train’ service along the Metro Railway’s most frequented North-South Corridor (also known as the Blue Line) in Kolkata will now be required to pay a surcharge of Rs 10 starting Wednesday (January 1, 2025). This information was disclosed by Metro Railway, Kolkata, on Tuesday.
The implementation of this surcharge is attributed to low occupancy, which fails to cover even a fraction of the expenses associated with operating the additional trains.
Historically, Metro has been hesitant to extend late-night services past the 9:40 p.m. cutoff from either terminal, except on special occasions such as Pujas or day-night cricket matches held at Eden Gardens. Following a Public Interest Litigation in May 2024, the Calcutta High Court instructed Metro authorities to explore the possibility of late-night services. Responding to this, a pair of trains began operations at 11 p.m. from both New Garia and Dum Dum starting May 24.
“The response was minimal, with fewer than 10 passengers on average aboard each train. Consequently, we adjusted the schedule for the last trains to 10:40 p.m. from June 24, yet ridership remained low. Given that passenger fares are heavily subsidized on the Kolkata Metro, we are operating at a significant deficit as we do not transport freight. Thus, it was decided to implement a Rs 10 surcharge for the last train services. Although this was slated to start in December, it was postponed for various reasons,” explained a senior official from Metro Railway.
Among the reasons for the delay were objections raised by various organizations, including the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), which threatened protests if the surcharge were enforced. Metro Railway clarified that it costs over Rs 70,000 to run a pair of trains, and without sufficient patronage, the losses would only escalate.
“As a government entity, we would not have been concerned about the losses had there been a significant number of users benefiting from the service. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is unreasonable to incur such losses for a mere handful of riders. Therefore, we have decided to implement the surcharge, effective from January 1, 2025,” the official stated.
