Kolkata Metro Line 1 --- a mass rapid transit system serving the north south axis of Kolkata city, is a first of its kind of transportation in the country, opening commercial services way back in 1984. Commuters had to wait for two decades, when in 1969 the Metropolitan Transport Project was initiated. The master plan prepared by them in 1971 spans over an extensive network of 97.50 km of which three corridors were selected for detailed planning - the North-South Corridor Dumdum-Tollygunge (Line 1), East-West Corridor Bidhannager-Ramrajatala (Line 2) and North Suburban to South Suburban Corridor Dakshineswar-Thakurpukur (Line 3). Based on traffic studies, the Dumdum – Tollygunge corridor was first selected for implementation and work started on 29th December, 1972. On 24th October 1984, Phase-I of the first underground metro line in India, of a length of about 3.4 km between Esplanade and Bhawanipur, was commissioned.
Currently Line 1 network spans over a distance of about 33 kms starting from New Garia - the southern fringe of the city to Dakshineswar - the northern tip of the Kolkata Metroplitan area. The network will comprise 26 stations once the full strech becomes operational following the completion of work between Noapara & Dakshineswar 5.22 km section. As of now the Metro Line 1 service runs between Noapara & New Garia, daily from morning 7 am to 10 pm at night (on Sundays service starts from 9 am) irrespective of holidays.
Photographed by Rudranil Roy Chowdhury. D.O.P. - 17th March 2019.