Since its recent launch, the new Metro route from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade has garnered remarkable footfall, with 1,35,000 commuters recorded in just two days.
Part of the East-West Metro Corridor connecting Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector-V, this route commenced commercial operations on March 15. The Esplanade to Sealdah section is still undergoing construction and is expected to open soon, according to reports by Millenium Post.
The introduction of this new connectivity has substantially reduced travel time between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, cutting it down from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes. This convenience has made it a popular choice not only for daily commuters but also for passengers transferring to the Blue Line at Esplanade, which links Kavi Subhash to Dakshineswar.
On the inaugural day, the route witnessed an impressive turnout, with 70,204 commuters utilizing the stretch. Howrah Maidan Metro station recorded the highest footfall at 23,444, followed by Howrah Metro station at 20,923. Mahakaran and Esplanade Metro stations also experienced substantial foot traffic, with 13,453 and 12,384 footfalls respectively.
In addition to regular commuters, many individuals opted to ride the Metro to witness the historic moment and marvel at the engineering feat of traveling under the Hooghly river. Even on Saturday, footfall remained significant, exceeding 65,000.
Operating 130 services from Monday to Saturday (65 from Howrah Maidan and 65 from Esplanade), the Metro will alternate between East and West-bound lines at intervals of 12 to 15 minutes, running from 7 am till 9:45 pm. The project incurred a total cost of Rs 4,965 crore.
