The transport system of
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
, a city in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, is a mix of modern
mass rapid transport and old transport modalities like
rickshaws
A rickshaw originally denoted a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart, now known as a pulled rickshaw, which is generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also ...
. Kolkata is connected to the rest of India by the
National Highways
National Highways, formerly the Highways Agency and later Highways England, is a State-owned enterprise, government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving Roads in England, motorways and major A roads in England. It al ...
, the extensive network of the
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...
,
National Waterways and by air. The most traffic to
Northeast India
, native_name_lang = mni
, settlement_type =
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, motto =
, image_map = Northeast india.png
, ...
route via Kolkata.
Roads
Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge is a balanced cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the cities ...
(also known as
Rabindra Setu
The Howrah Bridge is a balanced cantilever bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it replaced a pontoon bridge at the same location linking the citie ...
) and
Vidyasagar Setu
Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge, is a toll bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, linking the cities of Kolkata and Howrah.
Opened in 1992, with a total length of , Vidyasagar Setu is the first and longes ...
(also known as
Second Hooghly Bridge
Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge, is a toll bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, linking the cities of Kolkata and Howrah.
Opened in 1992, with a total length of , Vidyasagar Setu is the first and long ...
) are two bridges connecting Kolkata with
Howrah over the
Ganges
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
.
Bally Bridge
Vivekananda Setu (also called Willingdon Bridge and Bally Bridge) is a bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. It links the city of Howrah, at Bally, to Kolkata, at Dakshineswar. Completed on 1931, it is a multispan truss bridge a ...
(also known as
Vivekandanda Setu) is the third bridge over the river at the northern reach of the city near
Dakshineswar from Howrah.It is a road cum rail bridge. The fourth and the newest one is
Nivedita Setu which is a toll bridge beside Vivekananda Setu.
Since Kolkata suffers from traffic congestion like other Indian cities, a network of expressways like
Kona Expressway
Kona Expressway (part of NH12, not to be confused with Kona Highroad or NH117) is a six-lane grade-separated, tolled expressway in the suburban fringes of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the most important entries to Kolkata. As of Novembe ...
,
Kalyani Expressway
Kalyani Expressway is a , two-laned, tolled road which connects Kolkata with its satellite town, Kalyani in Nadia district. The road starts from Nimta in the North 24 Parganas district, in the North suburban fringes of Kolkata and ends in ...
,
Belghoria Expressway, flyovers and widening of southern stretch of
Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
The Eastern Metropolitan Bypass (known simply as both ''E.M. Bypass'' and ''EM Bypass'') is a (Including Kamalgazi to Baruipur extension) major road on the east side of Kolkata. It connects Ultadanga (North Kolkata) to Baruipur Puratan Baz ...
are being created to ease up road traffic.
Maa Flyover is an important flyover in Kolkata.
A Large network of roads are spread over in Kolkata which helps to reduce
traffic congestion. Elevated roads are present in New Town and Rajarhat area of Kolkata. Kolkata is connected to other parts of India by the National Highways
2,
6,
34, and
117. The Belghoria Expressway connects NH 34 with NH 2 and 6 via the Nivedita Setu while the NH 117 is connected to NH 6 by the
Kona Expressway
Kona Expressway (part of NH12, not to be confused with Kona Highroad or NH117) is a six-lane grade-separated, tolled expressway in the suburban fringes of Kolkata, West Bengal. It is one of the most important entries to Kolkata. As of Novembe ...
via the Vidyasagar Setu.
Railways
![International Train Maitree Express](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/International_Train_Maitree_Express.jpg)
Kolkata is well-connected to the rest of
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
by an extensive railway network of the Indian railways. Two divisions of the Indian railways - the
Eastern Railway and the
South Eastern Railway - are headquartered in the city. A total of five railway stations serve Kolkata. The two major
railway station
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
s of the city are at
Howrah and
Sealdah
Sealdah is a neighbourhood of Central Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Etymology
Jackals (''sheal'' in Bengali) howled around Sealdah. Antiquarians identify it as Shrigaldwipa (Jackal Island). Nearby Beliaghata w ...
. The third station is called
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
has recently been constructed. This station is in North Kolkata and can be reached by a road opposite to the
Radha Gobinda Kar Medical College & Hospital just beyond
Shyambazar
Shyambazar is a neighbourhood of North Kolkata, in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali ari ...
. International trains such as
Maitree Express
The Maitree Express train ( bn, মৈত্রী এক্সপ্রেস), pronounced ''Moitree Express'' is the first modern day, fully air conditioned, international, express train service connecting Dhaka in Bangladesh to Kolkata in th ...
and
Bandhan Express
The Bandhan Express train ( bn, বন্ধন এক্সপ্রেস) is an international express rail service which runs between the Indian city Kolkata and the Bangladeshi city Khulna every week. It is the second modern day, fully air ...
depart from Kolkata Station. The fourth station is
Santragachi Junction
Santragachi Junction railway station (station code: SRC) is a railway junction in South Eastern Railway Zone of Indian Railways, situated in Santragachhi, Howrah, India. It is one of five intercity railway stations serving Howrah and Kolkata. T ...
which operates weekly and bi-weekly express trains to ease pressure on Howrah junction. The fifth station is named
Shalimar Railway Station which used to be a goods yard has been transformed into a station from where mail and express trains operate. Nowadays the
Dankuni Station is been given importance and many long route trains stop at this station.
The electrified
suburban rail network of the
SER
Ser or SER may refer to:
Places
* Ser, a village in Bogdand Commune, Satu Mare County, Romania
* Serpens (Ser), an astronomical constellation of the northern hemisphere
* Serres, known as Ser in Serbian, a city in Macedonia, Greece
Organization ...
and the
ER is extensive and stretches far into the neighboring districts of
North 24 Parganas,
South 24 Parganas,
Howrah,
Hooghly,
Nadia
Nadia is a female name. Variations include Nadja, Nadya, Nadine, Nadiya, and Nadiia. Most variations of the name are derived from Arabic, Slavic languages, or both.
In Slavic, names similar to ''Nadia'' mean "hope" in many Slavic languages: ...
,
East Medinipur,
West Medinipur
Paschim Medinipur district or West Midnapore district (also known as Midnapore West) is one of the districts of the state of West Bengal, India. It was formed on 1 January 2002 after the Partition of Midnapore into Paschim Medinipur and Purba M ...
and parts of
East Barddhaman. The
Kolkata Suburban Railway is the largest suburban railway system in India with 1501 km route length.
The
Circular Rail encircles the entire city of Kolkata, starting and terminating at
Dum Dum Junction
Dum Dum is a Kolkata Suburban Railway junction station on the Sealdah–Ranaghat line. Two lines branch out after Dum Dum – the Calcutta chord line to and the Sealdah–Hasnabad–Bangaon–Ranaghat line to and . The Dum Dum metro stati ...
. However, the poorly-patronized branch line between
Dum Dum Cantonment railway station
Dum Dum Cantonment railway station is a small railway station in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Its code is DDC. It serves Dum Dum Cantonment town. The station consists of three platforms. The platform is very much well sheltered with ...
and
Biman Bandar railway station is now replaced by
Line 4 (under construction) of the
Kolkata Metro
The Kolkata Metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. , it has two operational lines, a line from Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash and a line from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah, for a total of . Four ...
.
Metro Railway
![A_Non_AC_Metro_Rake](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/A_Non_AC_Metro_Rake.gif)
![An AC Metro Rake](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/An_AC_Metro_Rake.jpg)
Kolkata was the first city in South Asia to have an
underground railway
The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...
system that started operating in 1984. Kolkata Metro is jointly owned by
Metro Railway, Kolkata
Metro Railway, Kolkata, is the owner and operator of Kolkata Metro, the oldest metro system of India. On 29 December 2010, it became the 17th zone of the Indian Railways, operated by the Ministry of Railways.
History
In 1969, the Metropolitan ...
and
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) is a Government of India enterprise formed in 2008. The agency was formed to oversee the implementing Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as East West Metro, connecting the twin cities Kolkata and Howrah. The ...
.
Kolkata Metro Line 1
The Line 1, Blue Line, also known as North–South Metro of the Kolkata Metro, is a rapid transit system serving South 24 Parganas, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas in Indian state of West Bengal. It consists of 26 operational stations from Dak ...
(Blue Line) is under the administration of
Metro Railway, Kolkata
Metro Railway, Kolkata, is the owner and operator of Kolkata Metro, the oldest metro system of India. On 29 December 2010, it became the 17th zone of the Indian Railways, operated by the Ministry of Railways.
History
In 1969, the Metropolitan ...
. It has the status of a Zonal Railway and is directly run by the
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...
. Kolkata Metro Line 1 is the oldest operating metro system in India which started operation in 1984. This metro system consists of elevated tracks as well as underground tunnels with electric current coming from a third rail. The rakes are both AC as well as Non-AC. Since October 2021, Non-AC metro services has been discontinued.
Kolkata Metro Line 2
Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as the East-West Metro and Green Line, is a rapid transit line of the Kolkata Metro in the Indian state of West Bengal. It currently consists of an operational section between Salt Lake and Sealdah, and will eve ...
(Green Line) is under the administration of
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) is a Government of India enterprise formed in 2008. The agency was formed to oversee the implementing Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as East West Metro, connecting the twin cities Kolkata and Howrah. The ...
. Green Line is going to have India's first underwater metro system. It consists only AC rakes.
Lines which are operational are:
Kolkata Metro Line 1
The Line 1, Blue Line, also known as North–South Metro of the Kolkata Metro, is a rapid transit system serving South 24 Parganas, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas in Indian state of West Bengal. It consists of 26 operational stations from Dak ...
(North-South Metro) begins at
Dakshineswar in the north and continues south through
Esplanade
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
in the heart of the city until the southern end in
New Garia
New Garia is a neighbourhood located in the eastern part of Garia, Kolkata, India. It is bounded by Chak Garia and Panchasayar to the north, Baishnabghata-Patuli and Briji to the west, Garia railway station and Kamalgazi to the south and Nayabad ...
. Blue Line is mostly underground with few portion on elevated tracks which makes it a different metro system from the rest of metro systems in India.
Kolkata Metro Line 2
Kolkata Metro Line 2, also known as the East-West Metro and Green Line, is a rapid transit line of the Kolkata Metro in the Indian state of West Bengal. It currently consists of an operational section between Salt Lake and Sealdah, and will eve ...
(East-West Metro) begins at
Bidhannagar Sector 5 in the east to
Phoolbagan
Phoolbagan is a neighbourhood in North Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Subhas Sarovar is one of the famous tourist attraction of Kolkata present in the locality of Phoolbagan.
Geography
Police district
Phoolbagan ...
. Only Phase 1 is completed. The phase 1 is on elevated tracks. The Phase 2 from
Phoolbagan
Phoolbagan is a neighbourhood in North Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Subhas Sarovar is one of the famous tourist attraction of Kolkata present in the locality of Phoolbagan.
Geography
Police district
Phoolbagan ...
to
Howrah Maidan is under construction. The Phase 2 is mostly underground. This phase 2 of the Green Line will cross through the
Hooghly River
The Bhagirathi Hooghly River (Anglicized alternatively spelled ''Hoogli'' or ''Hugli'') or the 'Bhāgirathi-Hooghly', called the Ganga or the Kati-Ganga in mythological texts, is the eastern distributary of the Ganges River in West Bengal, Indi ...
and it will be India's first underwater metro system. In July 2022, the
Sealdah Metro Station
Sealdah Metro Station is an operational station on Line 2 of the Kolkata Metro, located in Sealdah, Kolkata. The underground station adjoins with the Sealdah railway station of the Indian Railways on its eastern side. The Sealdah Court is on t ...
was inaugurated and currently the line extends from
Bidhannagar Sector 5 To
Sealdah
Sealdah is a neighbourhood of Central Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Etymology
Jackals (''sheal'' in Bengali) howled around Sealdah. Antiquarians identify it as Shrigaldwipa (Jackal Island). Nearby Beliaghata w ...
. The next portion which will be inaugurated will be from
Sealdah
Sealdah is a neighbourhood of Central Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Etymology
Jackals (''sheal'' in Bengali) howled around Sealdah. Antiquarians identify it as Shrigaldwipa (Jackal Island). Nearby Beliaghata w ...
to
Howrah Maidan via
Esplanade
An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cle ...
.
Other lines being constructed are:
*
Kolkata Metro Line 3
Kolkata Metro Line 3 or the Purple Line is a line of the Kolkata Metro. The stretch from Joka to Taratala of the line was inaugurated on 30 December 2022. The route spans from Joka in the south, to Esplanade in the north with an extension ...
(Esplanade - Behala - Joka)
urple Line
*
Kolkata Metro Line 4
The Kolkata Metro Line 4 or the Yellow Line, also known as the Noapara - Barasat Line of the Kolkata Metro in India is a long metro route from Noapara to Barasat in North 24 Parganas, which is under construction. It is being built by RVNL. It ...
(Noapara - Airport - Barasat)
ellow Line
*
Kolkata Metro Line 5
The Baranagar to Barrackpore, 12.50 km metro corridor (Line 5) in North 24 Parganas, is another line of Kolkata Metro, was sanctioned in 2009, at a cost of Rs.2070 crore, to enable a quicker commute from the northern suburbs to Kolkata, via Nor ...
(Baranagar - Barrackpore)
ink Line(planned but construction has not started).
*
Kolkata Metro Line 6
Kolkata Metro Line 6 or the Orange Line of the Kolkata Metro is an under-construction rapid transit line that will connect New Garia with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport via two satellite towns Salt Lake and New Town. The lin ...
(New Garia - EM Bypass - Salt Lake - Rajarhat Newtown - Airport)
range Line
Some extensions are also planned.
Trains run at a frequency of every 5 minutes (Peak Hours) to 15 minutes (Non-Peak Hours) from 6:55 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 09:50 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday. Fares range between ₹5 to ₹30. The Kolkata Metro has commendable service, affordable ticket prices, clean stations and safety.
Buses
![A_Private_Non_AC_Regular_Bus_Blue_&_White](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/A_Private_Non_AC_Regular_Bus_Blue_%26_White.jpg)
![Private AC Long Distance Bus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Private_AC_Long_Distance_Bus.jpg)
Kolkata despite not having any Rapid Bus Transit System has an extensive network of government run and privately run buses.
Bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
es in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal do not have a card system. One has to buy tickets after boarding the bus. The bus tickets are simple paper tickets purchased from the bus conductor. The government buses were previously run by
Calcutta State Transport Corporation,
Calcutta Tramways Company
Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was a state-run company that operated trams and buses in and around Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) in West Bengal, India. The Kolkata tram is the only operating tramway in India and is the oldest electric t ...
,
West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation
West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken corporation. It plies buses, trams and ferries in the state. It was formed by merging existing state transport agencies, namely the Calcutta State Transpo ...
,
North Bengal State Transport Corporation
North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) is a state government run transport corporation in West Bengal, India. It plies buses mainly in North Bengal but operates services to other parts of West Bengal and neighboring states like Si ...
and
South Bengal State Transport Corporation
South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken transport corporation. It plys buses in South Bengal and other parts of West Bengal to Durgapur and Kolkata. SBSTC owns many depots in West Bengal to ...
.In the year 2016, the first three government bus companies merged and formed
West Bengal Transport Corporation
West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken corporation. It plies buses, trams and ferries in the state. It was formed by merging existing state transport agencies, namely the Calcutta State Transpo ...
. The government buses are generally painted either blue color with white stripes or white color with blue stripes. This buses are identified by the WBTC symbol on the front windscreen and on their body. Usually these buses are big. Both the name of the destination place as well as the name of the originating place is mentioned on the front of the bus either digitally
ED Boardor written
hite Board Hite or HITE may refer to:
*HiteJinro, a South Korean brewery
**Hite Brewery
*Hite (surname)
*Hite, California, former name of Hite Cove, California
*Hite, Utah, a ghost town
*HITE, an industrial estate in Pakistan
See also
*''Hite v. Fairfax
' ...
The fleet consist of
Ashok Leyland Jan Bus,
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company, headquartered in Mumbai, India, which is part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, trucks, vans, coaches, buses.
Formerly known as Tata En ...
Marcopolo Bus and
Eicher Motors
Eicher Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive company that manufactures motorcycles and commercial vehicles, headquartered in New Delhi. Eicher is the parent company of Royal Enfield, a manufacturer of middleweight motorcycles.
...
Starline bus. Air-conditioned buses have been introduced in the year 2014 under
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was a massive city-modernization scheme launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Urban Development. It envisaged a total investment of over $20 billion over seven years. ...
(JNNURM) and are operated by WBTC. Air-conditioned buses have been included to provide comfort to daily commuters to make there travel less tiresome.However AC buses are quite empty as their fares are too high for the normal commuter. The fleet consist of
Tata Motors
Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company, headquartered in Mumbai, India, which is part of the Tata Group. The company produces passenger cars, trucks, vans, coaches, buses.
Formerly known as Tata En ...
Marcopolo buses and
Volvo
The Volvo Group ( sv, Volvokoncernen; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distributio ...
8400 Model buses. In the year 2019, electric AC buses were introduced. Tata Motors were given contract by Government Of West Bengal to supply 80 such buses to WBTC. Non-AC buses fare start from Rs.10 whereas AC buses fare start from Rs.25.Government buses stop only at designated bus stands.
The private buses are run by private operators who are affiliated with bus unions like
Joint Council of Bus Syndicate. This bus unions are affiliated with political parties in West Bengal. The private-owned buses are of three types, the regular ones, the mini-buses and buses without any route number. The regular buses are colored blue and yellow. Short distance buses (the ones with prefix 'SD') are colored blue and white.
The mini-buses are of red and yellow and contain lesser number of seats. The mini-buses were started in the late seventies as a relief for the office commuters from the overloaded buses by being a sitting-only service. But at present both regular and mini buses are overloaded and crowded largely due to the massive population of Kolkata. The third type is private buses without any route number. This buses may be of regular type or mini type and may be of different color. The private buses are Non-AC. These buses have Route numbers and name of stoppages as well as origin and destination is mentioned on the body. Usually, the conductor will call out the names of the stops at each halt, which makes boarding the right bus easier. If in doubt, the conductor or a fellow passenger will help out. The buses will often stop to pick up a passenger who waves at the bus.
Long-distance buses operated by both government and private operators starting from Kolkata to various parts of West Bengal and other neighboring states originate from the central bus depot at
Dharmatala
Dharmatala (archaic spelling Dhurrumtollah) is a neighbourhood of Central Kolkata, in Kolkata district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of West Bengal. Dharmatala Street has been renamed after Vladimir Lenin, Lenin as Lenin Sa ...
(also known as Esplanade) and Salt Lake Bus Stand. International bus service to Bangladesh is also available which departs from Esplanade bus stand and Barasat bus stand. The tickets can be purchased on spot from the counters or from online ticket booking websites. For international buses however one has to change buses at the border. One bus will drive from the bus terminus to the border with India and Bangladesh. After border checking and immigration is completed and we are inside the other country, another bus with the driver and conductor of that country will take us to our destination. Which bus to board will be mentioned.
Taxis
Taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice ...
s are a very important aspect of Kolkata. In Kolkata only four people are allowed in a taxi. The metered-cabs are mostly of the brand
Ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
. Once in a while,
Tata Indigo CS can be seen painted in yellow. They are not for middle class and poor people as their rates are too high. One has to pay an addition of Rs. 30 apart from the price shown on the meter. These vintage yellow taxis are there for a long time now. They are non air conditioned. Many people use them as their main mode of transportation. From December 2013,under Gatidhara Scheme Of Government Of West Bengal, a new fleet of no-refusal taxis had started to ply.
Most of these taxis are air conditioned and are in white livery with a blue strip and AC Taxi mentioned on the door and roof of the car. The fare is same as in that of yellow taxis (same rate as flashed on the meter), except if driven with ac turned on, the passenger has to pay 25% extra of the displayed fare. So if the displayed fare is Rs. 50, the rate would be Rs. 63. Radio taxis such as Mega Cabs and Blue Arrow Cabs are present. App based cab service like Ola & Uber are present. Private Operators are also available. One has to call them personally to book a ride. The private operators mainly provide cab service for long distance outstation travel. Shuttle services are also available.
Trams
![Tram in Kolkata 1191](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Tram_in_Kolkata_1191.jpg)
Kolkata is the only city in India to have a
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
network. Trams are under the administration of the
Calcutta Tramways Company
Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was a state-run company that operated trams and buses in and around Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) in West Bengal, India. The Kolkata tram is the only operating tramway in India and is the oldest electric t ...
, a government of West Bengal Undertaking, popularly called CTC (now merged with
West Bengal Transport Corporation
West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) is a West Bengal state government undertaken corporation. It plies buses, trams and ferries in the state. It was formed by merging existing state transport agencies, namely the Calcutta State Transpo ...
). The environment-friendliness and the age-old charm of the trams attract some people. The tram lines, laid in some major roads, are now renovated to place the tram lines on the same level plane as the rest of the road, thereby smoothening the road. In places, the original central boulevards reserved only for the trams have been removed; the tram-lines are thus brought in the same plane as that of the road. The usable space of the road for vehicle movement has thereby considerably increased.With embedding of tram tracks in the road surface, the overall surface has become smoother, easing the traffic to some extent.With the tracks now running in the centre of the heavy traffic roads, commuters are encountering difficulties in getting to the trams' stops through the traffic and as a result, fewer people are able to use the tram. Mostly trams are found to be running with many seats vacant even during rush hours. This has also caused reduction of revenue for Calcutta Tram Company. One possible remedy towards difficulty of approach-ability to the trams could be to relay the tracks on left and the right sides of the road, adjacent to the footpaths. However, relaying the track may not be possible now as the modification will need enormous expenditure. Moreover, in many thoroughfares one flank of the road is used for parking cars on payment of fee. Thereby generating revenue to the government as well as providing space for car parking. Hence, relaying tram tracks on the side of the road may not be feasible. Though trams are environment friendly, the main drawbacks of tram are that they are slow moving and occupy a lot of road space which itself is less in Kolkata. In case of derailment or breakdown of a tram the entire road gets obstructed. It will be better to keep trams in only some roads where problem of traffic jams are expected to be less. The solution to this would be to improve the maintenance of the trams as well as the support of local traffic sergeants. Signals can be modified to stop when a tram is coming, for its easy passage. Also, tram tracks should be demarcated with a small but sturdy demarcation, which will enable bikes to traverse when there are no trams. Now, several initiatives have started to improve the tram's popularity as well as increasing revenues. The results are positive. The Tram Museum is the latest addition to such schemes, which also include heritage trams' small models and meals on wheels trams i.e. with dining options. 1st AC passenger tram ran in the city in 2019. Each of the AC trams, built at the Nonapukur tram depot near Muzaffar Ahmed Sarani, cost Rs 25 lakh and is fitted with a 5.5 tonne AC unit, LED light bulbs and fans.
Rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws
![KolkataRickshaw](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/KolkataRickshaw.JPG)
![Cycle Rickshaw](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Cycle_Rickshaw.jpg)
![An Auto-Rickshaw also known as Auto](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/An_Auto-Rickshaw_also_known_as_Auto.jpg)
Rickshaws
A rickshaw originally denoted a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart, now known as a pulled rickshaw, which is generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also ...
pulled by men are common in Kolkata and
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
. Many migrants from Bihar and rural West Bengal are involved in
rickshaw
A rickshaw originally denoted a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart, now known as a pulled rickshaw, which is generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also ...
pulling. Nowadays except for some parts of Kolkata all the hand pulled rickshaws have been replaced by
cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport. It is a type of hatchback tricycle designed to carry passengers on a for-hire basis. It is also known by a variety of other names such as bike taxi, velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab ...
s. Fares are usually set by the rickshaw unions. These rickshaws usually operate over short distances due to the manual effort involved, and mainly run on narrow lanes where buses and auto-rickshaws don't ply. These rickshaws are not allowed to ply over main roads of Kolkata. Hand pulled rickshaws are mainly found in some old localities of North Kolkata and South Kolkata. Moreover, cycle rickshaws are also now being replaced by E-Rickshaw. They also ply on narrow lanes and not allowed to ply over main roads.
Auto-rickshaws have become a very common
mode of transport
Mode of transport is a term used to distinguish between different ways of transportation or transporting people or goods. The different modes of transport are air, water, and land transport, which includes rails or railways, road and off-road t ...
for short distances. They are usually not metered, and are usually shared. There are several routes, and the auto-rickshaws of a particular route ply between two distinct places of that route only. Colloquially called ''autos'', they usually accommodate three people in the backseat, and one passenger in front beside the driver. The fares are usually quite low compared to other metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, the minimum fare being Rs10. Unlike other metros, the auto rickshaws do not run on a fare meter. The auto rickshaws are not allowed in major arterial roads and certain part of the city.
Many suburban parts of Kolkata have
e-rickshaws running on battery. The minimum fare is Rs.10. Colloquially called "''totos"'', they usually accommodate around 4 people with 2 opposite facing seats. Totos are very popular mode of transport in suburban parts of Kolkata and rural West Bengal. They are considered new and cleaner mode of public transport as they run on electricity.
Airport
![Kolkata Airport New Terminal Tarmac Side](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Kolkata_Airport_New_Terminal_Tarmac_Side.jpg)
The
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is an international airport located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and is the aviation hub for eastern and northeastern India. It is located approximatel ...
(also known as
Kolkata Airport/
Dum Dum Airport
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is an international airport located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, serving the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and is the aviation hub for eastern and northeastern India. It is located approximatel ...
) at
Dum Dum
Dum Dum is a city and a municipality of Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata urban area and also a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).
Etymology
During the 19th ...
is the only airport in
Kolkata Metropolitan Area
Kolkata Metropolitan Area (abbreviated KMA; formerly Calcutta Metropolitan Area), also known as Greater Kolkata, is the urban agglomeration of the city of Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the third most populous metropolitan are ...
, operating both domestic and international flights. It is an important airport connecting
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
to different cities of India and neighboring countries of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
,
Bhutan
Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainous ...
and
Bangladesh
Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
. Kolkata Airport ranks fifth
in the list of the busiest airports in India. The number of people using the airport has consistently increased over the last few years. There is a flying club in
Behala
Behala is a locality of South West Kolkata, in the Indian state of West Bengal. Behala is a part of Kolkata Municipal Corporation area. It is broadly spread across Ward Nos. 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130 ...
. After several years of inactivity, it has been restored. It is the oldest flying institute on the country.
Seaport
Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
is a major riverine port and together with Haldia deep water port, the
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (formerly
Kolkata Port Trust
Port of Kolkata or Kolkata Port, officially known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (formerly Kolkata Port Trust), is the only riverine major port of India, located in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, around from the sea. It is the olde ...
) has been ranked 6th in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The port has regular passenger services to
Port Blair
Port Blair () is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India in the Bay of Bengal. It is also the local administrative sub-division (''tehsil'') of the islands, the headquarters for the district of South An ...
.
Ferry
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...
services between Kolkata - Howrah and Kolkata - Sagar Island are available. This ferry services are provided from various ''
ghat
Ghat, a term used in the Indian subcontinent, depending on the context could refer either to a range of stepped hills with valleys (ghati in Hindi), such as the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats; or the series of steps leading down to a body of ...
s'' like Fairlie Ghat, Howrah Ghat, Shibpur Ghat, Prinsep Ghat, Babughat and Cossipore Ghat.
References
External links
Metro Railway, KolkataKolkata Metro Rail CorporationEastern RailwaySouth Eastern RailwayWest Bengal Transport CorporationCalcutta Tramways Company
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kolkata transport
Kolkata