Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, August 22, 2025, officially inaugurated three new Kolkata Metro routes, including the much-awaited Kolkata Metro Airport Line connecting to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport and the historic under-river metro line under the Hooghly River.
The inauguration ceremony took place at Jessore Road Metro Station, where PM Modi boarded the metro and took a symbolic ride to and from the newly opened Jai Hind Bimanbandar Metro Station.
The event was attended by West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya, and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, highlighting the importance of this milestone in India’s urban transport infrastructure.
Kolkata Metro Expansion 2025
With the launch of these new metro services, Kolkata Metro connectivity has expanded by 13.61 km across the Green Line, Orange Line, and Yellow Line. This expansion is expected to revolutionize public transport in Kolkata, reducing travel time, improving airport connectivity and linking major railway hubs like Howrah and Sealdah.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of Kolkata in India’s economic growth, noting:
“India is on its way to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, and Kolkata’s role in connectivity and development is vital.”
He further highlighted that India’s metro rail network, which had only 250 km before 2014, has now crossed 1,000 km, making it the third-largest metro system in the world.
Key Metro Routes Inaugurated by PM Modi
- Green Line (Esplanade–Sealdah Metro Route): This crucial link reduces travel time between Howrah Railway Station and Sealdah Railway Station from 40 minutes to just 11 minutes, connecting business hubs across Howrah, Central Kolkata, and Bidhannagar (Salt Lake).
- Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (Kolkata Airport Metro Line): Direct metro connectivity to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport will drastically improve convenience for flyers and boost Kolkata airport connectivity.
- Beleghata to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro Route: This stretch enhances accessibility to Kolkata’s IT hubs in Sector V and Salt Lake, strengthening metro links for thousands of professionals.
Historical Significance of Kolkata Metro
Kolkata Metro, India’s first metro system launched in 1984, continues to set milestones. With the 2025 expansion, the city now strengthens its position as a leader in urban mobility.
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