Latest news with #Dakshineswar-bound
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Fewer gates lead to longer queues at new terminal stn
Kolkata: The Blue Line's new terminal station, Shahid Khudiram, is facing trouble in dispersing passengers due to a shortage of automatic fare collection (AFC) gates. The staffers at the metro station are grappling with long queues caused by the limited number of out gates, resulting in significant congestion during peak hours. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The station currently has only three exit gates, compared to the 10 available at the former terminal station, Kavi Subhash. In total, Kavi Subhash had 18 AFC gates, including eight for platform access. In contrast, Shahid Khudiram features six gates — three for entry and the rest for exit. Since last Tuesday, Shahid Khudiram staffers have been converting Gate 1, previously designated for entry, into an additional exit gate to facilitate the dispersal of commuters. The Kavi Subhash station was indefinite shut on July 28 following the discovery of cracks on the supporting columns of its Dakshineswar-bound platform. Since then, services have been terminating at Shahid Khudiram. Designed to accommodate approximately 10,000 daily passengers, the smaller Shahid Khudiram station allows access from both sides of Garia Station Road. However, both entrances lead to a single access area within the station box, which has only six AFC gates for entry and exit. In comparison, Kavi Subhash's two main entrances were equipped with nine AFC gates each, supporting a daily footfall of 20,000 to 25,000 passengers. "Even with an additional exit gate (Gate 1), which was previously reserved for entry and is now being used for exit during rush hours, the serpentine queues don't seem to have reduced," said Bishambar Majhi, a daily commuter, questioning why the manual gates cannot be opened during crises. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials explained that swiping out through AFC gates is necessary to prevent fare evasion. Allowing unregulated exits in the long term could enable travellers to cover longer distances on tickets of lesser value, potentially leading to significant revenue loss for Metro. "The lack of automatic recording would result in significant revenue loss for Metro," an official said.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Shahid Khudiram grunts under terminal Kavi Subhash's load
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: The Shahid Khudiram Metro station has unexpectedly become prominent as the new southern terminus of the North-South corridor (Blue Line), following recent developments. Despite its new status and the transfer of additional Metro staff, it is still ill-equipped for its enhanced role, according to stationed personnel. For instance, the station operates with only three security guards, with one now indisposed. The remaining two must manage multiple responsibilities, including passenger guidance, assistance with smart card machines, QR-coded ticket verification, and providing transport information. The morning shift runs from 6 am to 2.30 pm, followed by a gap till 4 pm when the next guard's shift begins, ending at midnight. During the interim period, a sweeper temporarily assumes security duties. Compared to Kavi Subhash's six booking counters, three windows are now functioning during peak hours at Shahid Khudiram, reducing to two during quieter periods. "We need more staff to handle passenger rush," a Metro employee said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle, Needle-Free Way to Monitor Blood Sugar—Now Being Tried by Seniors Zakdavi The station superintendent was unavailable for comment since he was at Kazi Nazrul station in Garia Bazar. He was in charge of two smaller stations all this time. Now, he is handling a terminal station and the second last terminal station, Kazi Nazrul. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Since Monday, Kavi Subhash station, which served as the Blue Line's southern terminus for 15 years, has been closed indefinitely due to expanding cracks on the columns supporting its Up platform for Dakshineswar-bound trains. The Blue Line, stretching 32 km from Kavi Subhash to Dakshineswar along the city's north-south axis, has been essential to Kolkata's transport system since its inception in Oct 1984, with subsequent expansions. The elevated Shahid Khudiram station began operations alongside Kavi Subhash terminal on Mahalaya on October 7, 2010, marking the Blue Line's final southern extension, which now serves approximately 6 lakh passengers daily. Earlier, while Kavi Subhash station recorded 22,000-25,000 daily visitors, Shahid Khudiram station saw a modest footfall of less than 10,000. Over the last three days, its footfall has increased to around 20,000 during peak hours. "People were barely aware of this station close to Dhalai Bridge in Garia. Many of my colleagues didn't even know that it has been named after freedom fighter Khudiram Bose. For riders, it was just one of the stations. It has suddenly become crucial for Metro commuters," said Sudakshina Sen, a govt schoolteacher and Sonarpur resident, who takes the Metro to travel to her workplace in Hazra.
News18
30-07-2025
- General
- News18
Kolkata: New Garia Metro Shut For 6 Months, What Went Wrong At The Key Interchange?
Last Updated: Though the station was built just 15 years ago, some officials admitted there were already 'red flags' in the structure's design before the damage. Metro services to Kavi Subhash (New Garia) station came to a grinding halt on Monday after visible cracks were found in the support columns of the station platform. The cracks appeared on the Up platform, which serves Dakshineswar-bound trains on the Blue Line. As per Telegraph India, metro authorities suspect the damage was caused by 'uneven settlement" due to recent heavy rainfall. As a safety measure, services to and from the terminal station have been indefinitely suspended. How Long Will the Repair Take? While an official timeline hasn't been confirmed, sources within Metro Railway say it could take at least six months before the station is operational again. A detailed assessment is underway, and repair work will begin soon. In the meantime, Blue Line trains will run only between Dakshineswar and Shahid Khudiram (Dhalai Bridge). Though the Orange Line—from Ruby to New Garia—remains unaffected, the crucial interchange at New Garia is now non-functional, causing major inconvenience. What's the Bigger Concern? Some Metro officials believe the station's design did not consider the soil type adequately. Cracks were reportedly noticed even before the rains, suggesting deeper structural flaws. Why Does This Matter to Commuters? The closure impacts thousands. New Garia station connects directly with the suburban railway network, allowing seamless transfers. With several new housing projects in areas like Narendrapur and Panchasayar, ridership from New Garia had seen a steady rise. 'This shutdown has messed up my daily commute," said Sameer Guha, a regular commuter. 'It's shocking that such a new station is crumbling." view comments 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.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Suicide bid at Central stn stalls Metro services for 1 hour
Kolkata: Metro services on the North-South (Blue) line were disrupted for an hour on Saturday following a suicide bid at Central station. Though truncated services were operated, several commuters were hassled as no trains were available in the Maidan-Girish Park section until 12.55 pm. Around 11.55 am, a man jumped before a Dakshineswar-bound train at the Central station, a Metro Railway spokesperson said. The third rail, which supplies electricity to the rakes, was switched off to rescue the man from the tracks and give him medical aid. "Truncated services were run between Maidan and New Garia (Kavi Subhas) stations and between Girish Park and Dakshineswar stations for an hour," the Metro official said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Cops from Bowbazar PS were called in. The man reportedly survived. Normal services on the entire New Garia-Dakshineswar stretch resumed from 12.55 pm. Even as the rush hour was just ending and it was a Saturday, several commuters were inconvenienced with no services being provided from either the northern or the southern terminals to the central business district. "As trains were going up to Maidan, I decided to avail the Metro and take a bus to my workplace at Chandni Chowk. Fortunately, I managed to board a crowded bus even as I was late for work by an hour," Abhirup Das, an executive, said. tnn
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Maidan-Tolly metro services hit by snag
Kolkata: Metro services in the North-South corridor were disrupted for over an hour on Saturday afternoon as a Dakshineswar-bound train came to a halt at Jatin Das Park station around 3.30 pm. Metro Railway officials said the section between Jatin Das Park and Netaji Bhavan stations developed a technical glitch. The snag resulted in the temporary suspension of services between Maidan and Tollygunge stations, impacting trains travelling in both the Up and Down directions. Normal services resumed at 4.40 pm, Metro Railway officials said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "We are trying to address the technical fault and restore normal services as soon as we can. Meanwhile, truncated services are being run on the Maidan-Dakshineswar section and between Tollygunge (Mahanayak Uttam Kumar) and New Garia (Kavi Subhas) stations," a Metro Railway spokesperson had said at the time of the disruption. He later said, "Normal services across Dakshineswar and New Garia were restored at 4.40 pm. " Witnesses said the Up train suddenly stopped at 3.34 pm. Technicians and engineers were called in to inspect. The third rail in the Jatin Das Park-Netaji Bhavan section was switched off, following which no train ran between Maidan and Tollygunge. "It was raining heavily and buses were overcrowded when metro services were suspended," said Bishakha Mukherjee, on her way home in Dum Dum from Hazra. "Despite the sudden surge, I took a cab to the office," said Sayantani Das, who works in an office in Esplanade.
