Kolkata Metro launches Tourist Smart Cards for unlimited travel during Durga Puja (Sept 28-Oct 2) to manage crowds. Special Mahalaya services start Sept 21 with increased trains on the Blue Line
Durga Puja festivities will kick off on September 28 in Kolkata. Are you planning to visit the city during the festival season? Consider travelling within the city by metro. The 5-day Durga Puja celebration, which will conclude on October 2, is synonymous with unprecedented crowds. With thousands of pandal-hoppers expected to assemble in the City of Joy, most people are likely to avail metro train services for convenience. Hence, to manage the festive rush, the Kolkata Metro has launched a new initiative. The authorities have rolled out a special Tourist Smart Card offering unlimited journeys for three or five days, as the daily Metro footfall is expected to touch 11-12 lakhs this year.
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Tourist Smart Card holders can enjoy unlimited metro rides for three days for a fixed price of Rs 250 and for five days at Rs 550, as per a report by Moneycontrol. This move has been introduced "in order to facilitate travel of a large number of tourists/visitors during the ensuing Durga Puja," shared the Kolkata Metro in a statement. With this facility, tourists and pandal-hopping enthusiasts can skip repeated queuing for tokens or recharges.
Durga Puja is the grand celebration of Goddess Durga's victory over evil.
Photo Credit: Pexels
How Tourist Smart Cards Are Different From Regular Metro Cards
Unlike regular Smart Cards that operate on a pay-as-you-go system, the Tourist Smart Card offers unrestricted travel within the validity period. However, users with regular Smart Cards will continue to enjoy a 5 per cent bonus on recharge value. Metro officials are also urging commuters to opt for digital ticketing to avoid long queues. The Tourist Smart Cards or regular Smart Cards can be obtained from the Aamar Kolkata Metro application.
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Special Mahalaya Services in Kolkata
The special metro services are scheduled to begin from Mahalaya on Sunday, September 21. On this day, commuters wishing to board the Blue Line will get 182 trains, which is a significant increase compared to the usual 130 trains that run on Sundays. The first trains from key stations such as Noapara, Dakshineswar, and Dum Dum will depart between 6.50 am and 6.55 am. The timing of the last services remains unchanged.
