Passengers Stranded at Kolkata Airport on Diwali as Metro Services Halt at 8 PM

Passengers landing at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Diwali evening faced major trouble finding transport after Metro services on the Yellow Line stopped for the day, and other options became limited. The Metro line connecting the Airport and Noapara operates only till 8 pm, leaving late-evening arrivals

without the Metro link.

Passengers Expressed Disappointment

With no trains running and limited buses, many passengers were stranded outside the terminal. Airport buses were few, with waiting times stretching up to 30 minutes between each service. App-based cab fares rose sharply due to the festive rush, making travel even more difficult. "App cab fares almost doubled in the evening. I had to pay Rs 600 from Salt Lake to the airport, while on regular days it costs only around Rs 350," said Kaustuv Roy, a resident of Salt Lake's AB block. Adding to the chaos, touts reportedly approached stranded flyers, demanding unreasonably high fares. Several travellers said some taxi drivers asked for as much as Rs 1,000 for a short 15-kilometre ride. One frustrated passenger, Ananya Ray, shared her experience on social media, writing: "Sad state of public transportation at Kolkata Airport. Metro Railway shuts at 8 pm! Bus every 30 minutes, taxis refuse rides unless you pay Rs 1,000 for 15 km."

The situation highlighted how limited transport services after 8 pm continue to trouble passengers at Kolkata Airport, especially during festivals and late-night flight schedules. Many travellers urged authorities to extend Metro timings or increase bus frequency to ensure smoother connectivity between the airport and the city, particularly during peak travel days like Diwali.