PM Modi Inaugurates Three New Kolkata Metro Routes, CM Mamata Banerjee Skips Event
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three new metro routes in Kolkata, including a direct link to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The new stretches are expected to ease congestion on the city's clogged roads. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the event, claiming credit for the project.
Narendra ModiKolkata MetroMamata BanerjeeTrinamool CongressMetro ExpansionReal EstateAug 22, 2025
The new stretches are expected to ease congestion on the city’s clogged roads. The Green Line extension between Sealdah and Esplanade (2.45 km) will link Kolkata’s two busiest railway terminals, Howrah and Sealdah, for the first time. A road journey that typically takes 50 minutes in traffic can now be completed in just 11 minutes underground.
For air travellers, the Yellow Line stretch from Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar (6.77 km) connects the airport directly to the metro grid, ending a four-decade wait. The commute time to the airport, which often exceeds an hour by road, is now expected to go down to around 30 minutes.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the inauguration. Trinamool Congress leaders said the party took the decision over alleged harassment of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states. The party has accused governments in Assam, Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat of detaining and profiling Bengali-speaking workers as “illegal Bangladeshis”.
Earlier today, Banerjee said that the newly-inaugurated metro projects by PM Modi were planned and sanctioned during her tenure as railway minister. She took to X and posted, “Allow me to be a little nostalgic today. As the Railways Minister of India, I was fortunate in planning and sanctioning a series of Metro Railway corridors in metropolitan Kolkata. I had drawn the blueprints, arranged the funds, initiated the works, and ensured that the different ends of the city (Joka, Garia, Airport, Sector V, etc) were connected by an intra-city Metro grid. Later, as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, I had the additional privilege of taking part in the execution of the projects.”
Mamata Banerjee held the railway portfolio twice. She was the railways minister first in the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2001). She got the ministry again during the Congress-led UPA-2 from 2009 to 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new metro routes inaugurated by PM Modi in Kolkata?
PM Modi inaugurated the Green Line between Sealdah and Esplanade, the Yellow Line from Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar, and the Orange Line. These routes add a total of 13.61 km to the Kolkata Metro network.
How will the new metro routes benefit the commuters in Kolkata?
The new routes will significantly reduce travel time and ease congestion on the city's roads. For example, the Green Line extension will reduce a 50-minute road journey to just 11 minutes, and the Yellow Line will cut down the airport commute time to around 30 minutes.
Why did Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skip the inauguration event?
Mamata Banerjee skipped the event due to alleged harassment of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states. The Trinamool Congress accused governments in Assam, Odisha, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat of detaining and profiling Bengali-speaking workers as ‘illegal Bangladeshis’.
What role did Mamata Banerjee play in the planning of the new metro routes?
Mamata Banerjee, as the Railway Minister, planned and sanctioned the metro projects during her tenure. She was responsible for drawing the blueprints, arranging funds, and initiating the works for the new routes.
How many times has Mamata Banerjee held the railway portfolio?
Mamata Banerjee held the railway portfolio twice. She was the railways minister first in the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2001) and again during the Congress-led UPA-2 from 2009 to 2011.
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