Metro runs Sunday north-south services after 104 days in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Metro rolled on a Sunday after 104 days, along the north-south corridor. The last Sunday operation was on May 9, as services were halted from May 16, for the second Covid wave. Even as the city’s transport lifeline resumed on July 16, the state government only allowed five-day runs. Metro Railway has been offering special trains for essential workers across sectors on Saturdays.
Now, the same facility is available on the seventh day of the week. But this Sunday’s services were opened especially for the WBCS (prelims) aspirants and their parents, who were allowed to ride after showing admit cards. Allowances were also made for essential workers with ID cards. Next Sunday (August 29) onwards, essential workers can continue to board the trains. Ever since Metro restarted after the second Covid-induced suspension, it has become the backbone of transport. Many bus routes are still off roads. Taxi and app-cab tariffs are too high for daily commute, thanks to the skyrocketing fuel prices. Several car-owners, too, are taking the Metro.
“Thank God, it’s available on Sundays as well,” said hotel executive and shopper Aritra Das, who boarded the train from Baranagar. “I travelled till Rabindra Sarobar for just Rs 25 and took an auto to South City Mall for another Rs 7,” he said.
Metro ran 112 trains from Kavi Subhas to Dakshineswar between 10am and 10pm. From next Sunday, the same number of trains will ply but services will run at 8-minute intervals during morning and evening peak hours. Even as state guidelines allow Metro to run from Monday to Friday, the carrier had decided to allow people from essential services to avail it on Sunday.