
Commuters throng underground as surface transport goes haywire
2
3
4
Kolkata: Commuters on Monday preferred the underground route as transport above the ground went missing since morning, forcing many office-goers to take unsanctioned leave. The Metro was a saviour when buses, mostly hired for rallyists, were unavailable and app-cab services were erratic.
Till 3 pm, the Blue Line, which is the city's transportation lifeline operating along the North-South axis, recorded a sharp spike with 386,033 commuters. Green Line 2, or East-West Metro's Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section, ferried 39,528 people till 3 pm. Howrah was the Green Line's most crowded station, earning Rs 3.1 lakh (cash) till 5.30 pm. "Compiling revenue generated from other means like smart card, UPI, and the Metro app, Howrah station earned around Rs 5 lakh till 5.30 pm," an official said.
The passenger count for Green Line 1, or East-West Metro's Sector V-Sealdah section, was 29,501 till 3 pm. The less-used metro lines were more crowded than usual. Till 3 pm, the Orange (New Garia-Ruby) and Purple (Joka-Majerhat) lines recorded 3,276 and 3,430 passengers, respectively.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
Extra counters were opened at stations like Esplanade, Howrah, and Park Street. Extra staff members and RPF personnel were deployed to control the crowd.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep
ResMed
Buy Now
Undo
Manual passage replaced automatic fare collection (AFC) gates. Separate accesses were opened for smart card users for faster movement. As passengers were trying to squeeze in, a few trains were briefly held up at Esplanade and Chandni Chowk stations because the compartment doors could not be closed.
RPF personnel were seen rushing in to help commuters board the trains. Escalators were turned off to prevent accidents.
"It was like a local train journey. The compartments were packed with rally participants. I had to get down at Esplanade but could not. I went to Park Street instead and walked back," said Pritam Saha, a Lake Town resident who boarded a train at Belgachhia.
Above the ground, the dearth of buses or any other means of commute gave daily travellers a harrowing time. "I waited for 20 minutes for a bus to Park Street, then decided to take the metro from Thakurpukur station to Majerhat where I waited for another 30 minutes for a bus.
Joined three others around 10 am for a shared cab ride to Park Street that cost us Rs 600," rued Goutam Maji, a private firm employee. App cabs were cancelling at random.
"At 8.30 am, at least four cab drivers cancelled rides to Esplanade," said Tanima Mondal, who was forced to opt for an app bike for twice the normal fare. Very few auto rickshaws were seen in the morning.
Buses from both the northern fringes (Barasat, Rajarhat, New Town) and the south (Behala, Budge Budge, Amtala, Sonarpur, and Baruipur) weren't available since Sunday evening. According to Titu Saha of the City Suburban Bus Service and Tapan Banerjee of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, it was the highest rally requisition in recent years.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
an hour ago
- News18
Maharashtra's 1st Glass Bridge Is Now Open: How To Plan Trip To Sindhudurg's Napne Waterfall
Last Updated: Maharashtra's 1st Glass Bridge On Sindhudurg's Napne Waterfall Is Now Open: The structure allows visitors to walk across the waterfall offering a spectacular view Maharashtra's Napne bridge — first ever glass structure on waterfall in the state – was thrown open to public on Wednesday. In a post on X, Nitesh Rane, a minister from the region, wrote: '1st Glass Bridge over a waterfall in Vaibhavwadi Sindhudurg! Open to the public from today! Dedicated to our Vikas Purush Hon CM @Dev_Fadnavis ji on his birthday #HBDDevaBhau." The Napne glass bridge The project was executed under the Sindhuratna tourism promotion scheme, with a budget of around Rs 99.63 lakh. @Dev_Fadnavis ji on his birthday #HBDDevaBhau — Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) July 22, 2025 Why is Napne waterfall popular? It originates near Nadhavade village and flows year-round—making it unique among seasonal waterfalls in the region The waterfall is surrounded by lush forest and rich biodiversity, including birds like hornbills, offering both aesthetic and ecological appeal. How was the Napne glass bridge built? Built entirely with strong, transparent glass, the structure allows visitors to walk across and view the waterfall from above—especially spectacular during the monsoon. The bridge is adorned with colourful arch-style railings and wooden-style access stairs. At the entrance stands a butterfly sculpture, a popular selfie spot. Nearby rock art features bird and wildlife paintings, enhancing its educational value. Designed both as a tourist attraction and a tool for local economic growth, the bridge is expected to drive increased visitor traffic to the Konkan region and generate new employment opportunities The development was part of a larger master plan by the Public Works Department, prompted by interests from state tourism officials. सिंधुदुर्गातील वैभववाडी-नापणे धबधब्यावर साकारलेल्या राज्यातील पहिल्या काचेच्या पुलाचे अनावरण ! @Dev_Fadnavis #नापणे_धबधबा #सिंधूरत्न_योजना #काचेचा_पूल #वैभववाडी #पर्यटन_स्थळ #पर्यटन #सिंधुदुर्ग — Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) July 22, 2025 Why was there a demand for Napne glass bridge? The demand to develop Napne Falls into a tourist destination had been long-standing. It gained momentum after former Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar and then Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal inspected the site and asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to create a master plan. This resulted in a detailed design including a glass bridge, access steps, and basic amenities for tourists. How to reach Napne? To reach the Napne Glass Bridge at Vaibhavwadi in Sindhudurg from Mumbai, the most efficient way is by train. By railway: You can board a Konkan Railway train such as the Mandovi Express or Konkan Kanya Express from Mumbai's CSMT, Dadar, or Panvel stations and get off at Vaibhavwadi Road Railway Station (VBW). The journey takes approximately 7 to 9 hours. From the station, Napne is about 15 km away—easily accessible by local taxi or auto-rickshaw. Alternatively, you can travel by private bus from Mumbai to Vaibhavwadi, which takes around 9 to 11 hours and costs Rs 500–Rs 1,500 depending on the service. From the Vaibhavwadi bus stand, local transport will take you to Napne. By road: If you prefer to drive, the road journey from Mumbai covers roughly 390 to 450 km, taking around 9 hours via NH-66 through Ratnagiri. Napne Waterfall is located near Nadhavade village, just 3–4 km from the main Vaibhavwadi–Talere road, with well-paved roads most of the way. The best time to visit is from September to February, when the waterfall is flowing and the surrounding forest is lush. There are limited stay options near the site, so you may consider accommodations in Vaibhavwadi or nearby towns like Kankavli. सिंधुदुर्गातील नापणे धबधब्यावरती सिंधूरत्न योजनेतून राज्यातील पहिला काचेच्या पुल उभारण्यात आला आहे. आज या पुलाचे उदघाटन केले. या पुलामुळे निश्चित सिंधुदुर्गच्या पर्यटनाला चालना मिळेल. येत्या काळात आंतरराष्ट्रीय दर्जाचे पर्यटन स्थळ म्हणून नापणे धबधबा नावारुपाला येईल. पर्यटनासाठी… — Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) July 22, 2025 Other glass bridges or skywalks being planned in Maharashtra Lonavala: Authorities plan a 125-m-long x 6-m wide glass skywalk connecting Lion's Point and Tiger Point. The project, backed by PMRDA with an estimated Rs 909 crore budget, will include amenities like a rooftop café, amphitheater, adventure sports zone, and expansive parking. Construction started in early 2025, with a target completion by June 2027. Malshej Ghat: The state has approved a 115-meter glass skywalk as part of a Rs 266-crore integrated tourist complex. The plan includes attractions such as a museum, coffee shop, escalator access, a viewing plaza, and infrastructure to position the site as a premier nature destination. Work is slated to begin once the detailed project report and public-private partnership model are finalised. Melghat Tiger Reserve near Amravati: There is an ongoing project to build approximately 407 meters of glass-paved skywalk suspended over a deep scenic valley, with a 100 m section of transparent flooring. It awaits final central environmental clearance. Maval taluka (Lonavala region): A glass skywalk received clearances in late 2023 with Rs 333 crore in budget approval. The design includes amenities such as a suspension bridge linking viewpoints, adventure facilities like zip-line and bungee, amphitheater, food park, and landscaped parking. top videos View all Mira Bhayandar (Ghodbunder Bay) Glass Skywalk: A glass bottom bridge connecting Bay Shore with Killa Shiv Srushti fort. The budget is Rs 65 crore. With Agency Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More view comments Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: July 23, 2025, 15:49 IST News cities Maharashtra's 1st Glass Bridge Is Now Open: How To Plan Trip To Sindhudurg's Napne Waterfall Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Indian Users Can Now Use UPI On Foreign Land, Sites Via PayPal World
New Delhi: In a major boost to cross-border digital payments, Indian users will now be able to use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make payments internationally through PayPal. The global payments company 'PayPal' has announced the launch of "PayPal World", a new platform that aims to connect the world's largest payment systems and digital wallets. The platform will start by offering interoperability between PayPal and Venmo, and include UPI as part of its initial launch. This means Indian consumers can now shop from international merchants and pay using the UPI option they are already familiar with. For example, an Indian user browsing an online store in the United States to buy a pair of sneakers will now see a UPI button after clicking the PayPal option at checkout. This allows them to complete the transaction using their UPI account, just as they would for any domestic payment. Ritesh Shukla, Managing Director and CEO of NPCI International Payments Limited, welcomed the development. He said, "The integration of UPI on PayPal World's platform will mark a significant step in expanding UPI's global footprint. It aligns with our vision to make cross-border payments more seamless, secure, and inclusive. This collaboration will enhance convenience for Indian users making payments abroad and enable global businesses and merchants to tap into a growing base of UPI users." The company stated that collaboration includes global partners representing nearly two billion users worldwide. These include Mercado Pago (MOU signed, further details being scoped), NPCI International Payments Limited (UPI), PayPal, Tenpay Global, and Venmo. The platform also benefits users from other countries. For instance, a PayPal user travelling to China can make payments at a cafe that accepts Weixin Pay simply by scanning the code using their PayPal app. Similarly, a Venmo user in the US can send money to a friend in Germany by typing in the phone number and selecting the PayPal wallet. This step marks a new beginning for global digital payments, especially for Indian users who rely heavily on UPI for everyday transactions. With PayPal World, sending money or shopping across borders will be easier than ever.


News18
2 hours ago
- News18
This New Student Forex Card Offers Zero Markup Fees, Free Atm Withdrawals, Up To Rs 15,000 Cashback On Fee Transfers And More, Check Details
BookMyForex's Double Crazy Sale - Student Edition offers up to Rs 20,000 cashback on forex cards and tuition fee transfers for Indian students abroad. Planning to study abroad? Well, there's good news, as now you can save a significant amount on foreign exchange and tuition fees. BookMyForex, a MakeMyTrip Group affiliate, has now introduced a Double Crazy Sale – Student Edition to reduce the financial burden of Indian students going overseas for higher education. The limited-time offer provides up to Rs 20,000 cashback on student forex cards and tuition fee transfers. The Official Press Release reads, 'Backed by zero hidden fees, a lowest rate guarantee, and cost-saving features like free ATM withdrawals and no cross-currency charges, the offer aims to help students and parents save significantly on essential university-related expenses." What are the Benefits? Furthermore, it also comes with a referral bonus. This means students can avail up to Rs 500 for every successful referral, while the new joiners can enjoy heavy discounts on their first transaction. Not just this, students can also get Rs 7,500 cashback on ordering a Global Forex Card, which also comes with zero markup charges on foreign currency, no cross-currency conversion fees, and free ATM withdrawals abroad. Also, BookMyForex provides a fully online tuition transfer service. Students and parents may pay fees to universities directly through partner banks without having to visit a branch. Transfers are carried out the same day, with no fees and the company's lowest rate guarantee. Every fee transfer earns up to Rs 15,000 cashback. BookMyForex Guarantee: If students find a lower exchange rate elsewhere, BookMyForex will repay the difference twice as part of its Lowest Rate Guarantee. However, that is restricted to a narrow set of currencies, only applies to online platforms authorised by the RBI, and excludes any other ongoing offers. Offer Validity: The offer is applicable on the BookMyForex App and website through September 15, 2025. To take advantage of the benefits, students can use the promo code CRAZYSALE for forex card orders and REMITSPL for money transfers. The company is also offering same-day delivery for orders booked before 1 pm on any working day. The offer is limited to one transaction per user during the campaign, and the promo code REMITSPL must be entered at the time of booking. If you forget to apply the coupon or cancel the order later, you will lose the entire cashback. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 14:27 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.