Kolkata Moves Towards a 24×7 Economy with Expanded Metro Services and Planned Night Bus Revival

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Tue, Jul 28, 01:34 AM IST • 2 min read

Kolkata is taking a significant step towards building a vibrant 24×7 economy by strengthening its late-night public transport network. With expanded metro services already in effect and plans underway to revive night bus operations, the city is laying the foundation for round-the-clock economic activity.

From today, Metro Railway has increased the frequency of services on both the Blue and Green Lines. Weekday metro operations will now run from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, offering improved connectivity for commuters across the city.

Under the revised schedule, the Blue Line now operates 272 services on weekdays and 158 services on Sundays, while the Green Line operates 236 weekday services and 111 Sunday services. The enhanced schedule is expected to benefit office-goers, students, healthcare professionals and daily commuters by providing greater flexibility throughout the day.

The state government is also planning to revive night bus services, addressing one of Kolkata's biggest public transport gaps after metro hours. The proposal is expected to provide reliable mobility for employees working in sectors such as IT, healthcare, logistics, hospitality and emergency services, many of whom currently face limited commuting options late at night.

Improved late-night transport is also expected to unlock new economic opportunities. According to officials, if the proposed 24×7 business ecosystem is implemented, the number of late-night restaurants, cafés, momo outlets and ice cream parlours across the city could increase from around 300 to over 3,000 within a year. Such expansion has the potential to create thousands of new jobs while encouraging entrepreneurship, boosting tourism and strengthening Kolkata's night-time economy.

Globally, cities with strong public transport networks are better positioned to support round-the-clock businesses. By expanding metro operations and exploring the revival of night bus services, Kolkata is taking practical steps towards creating a safer, more accessible and economically vibrant urban environment.

As transport infrastructure continues to improve, the city is steadily positioning itself to support businesses, workers and visitors beyond conventional operating hours, marking another important milestone in Kolkata's urban transformation.