The Kolkata airport metro is the Yellow Line, a short four-station corridor that links Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to Noapara on the Blue Line. The airport station is called Jai Hind (also signed as Bimanbandar), and it sits underground a short walk from the terminal. From Jai Hind, trains stop at Jessore Road and Dum Dum Cantonment before ending at Noapara, where you change to the Blue Line for Dum Dum, Shyambazar, Esplanade, Park Street, Kalighat and the rest of the city. The airport to Noapara ride takes roughly ten minutes and costs Rs 10, and a full trip to Esplanade or Howrah has been reported at around Rs 40 to Rs 50 with one change. Services run seven days a week, starting a little after 7 am on weekdays and Saturdays and around 9 am on Sundays, with the last trains leaving the airport in the evening rather than late at night. This guide covers the stations, fares, timings and the practical details of using it with luggage.
What the Kolkata airport metro (Yellow Line) actually covers
The Yellow Line opened to the public in late August 2025 after years of delay, and it is still a short line. The operational stretch runs about 7 km between Noapara and Jai Hind, with four stations in total. Noapara is elevated and shares its complex with the Blue Line depot, Dum Dum Cantonment is elevated and sits next to the suburban railway station of the same name, Jessore Road is at ground level, and Jai Hind is fully underground beneath airport land. The full line is planned to continue north through Birati and Michael Nagar towards Madhyamgram and Barasat, but that extension is under construction and no opening date has been confirmed, so for now the Yellow Line is best thought of as an airport shuttle to the Blue Line.
Because it is a feeder line, almost every airport journey involves one change at Noapara. If you are new to the network, our Kolkata metro route guide explains each corridor, and our guide to Kolkata metro interchange stations walks through the Noapara transfer in detail.
Stations on the airport metro line
Jai Hind (Bimanbandar), the airport station
Jai Hind is the airport terminus and the reason the line exists. It is an underground station built on airport property, and it was designed as a future interchange with the Orange Line (the New Garia to airport corridor), which is why the station is much larger than a four-station line needs. The concourse connects to the terminal by a covered walkway; the distance is short by airport standards, but it is still a walk with bags, so allow ten minutes between the metro platform and the terminal doors. Follow the metro signage inside the terminal area rather than heading for the taxi ranks, since the station entrance is separate from the main road-side pick-up zone.
Jessore Road and Dum Dum Cantonment
These two intermediate stations mainly serve residents of the Jessore Road, Dum Dum Cantonment and Nager Bazar belt, and Dum Dum Cantonment has the added value of sitting beside the Sealdah-section suburban railway station. If you are heading to the northern suburbs on a local train, changing here to Eastern Railway can be quicker than going all the way into the city. For everyone else, these stops are simply two brief pauses on the way to Noapara.
Noapara, the Blue Line interchange
Noapara is where the Yellow Line ends and the north-south Blue Line takes over. The two lines share one station complex, so the change is a same-station transfer using stairs or lifts between platform levels rather than a walk through the streets. Blue Line trains from Noapara run south through Dum Dum, Belgachia, Shyambazar, Central, Esplanade, Park Street, Kalighat and Tollygunge to Kavi Subhash (New Garia), and north to Baranagar and Dakshineswar. Check the destination board before boarding, because trains in both directions leave from Noapara.
Kolkata airport metro fare: how much does it cost?
Kolkata Metro uses distance-based slabs that start at Rs 5, and the Yellow Line follows the same chart. The ride from Jai Hind to Noapara costs Rs 10. For onward journeys, the fare is calculated on the total distance across both lines, so you buy one ticket for the whole trip rather than paying twice. Fares reported when the line opened put Jai Hind to Esplanade at around Rs 40 and Jai Hind to Howrah (via the Blue Line and Green Line) at around Rs 50, which makes the metro by far the cheapest way into town. Fare charts are revised from time to time, so confirm the current figure at the ticket counter or in the official Metro Railway app before you rely on it. Smart card users get the usual discount on token fares, and QR tickets bought through the app work at the airport station gates. Our Kolkata metro ticket and smart card guide covers the options.
Airport metro timings: first and last trains
Timings have been extended more than once since the line opened, and the current published pattern is as follows. On weekdays the first train leaves Noapara for the airport at 7.18 am and the first departure from Jai Hind towards Noapara is around 7.40 am. The last train from Noapara to the airport leaves at about 9.58 pm and the last departure from the airport is about 9.18 pm. On Saturdays the line runs on a similar window from 7.18 am to around 9.30 pm, and on Sundays services start later, at about 9.18 am, and finish around 9.30 pm.
Frequency is the weak point. On weekdays trains run roughly every 15 minutes, and on weekends the gap is about 18 minutes, so this is not a turn-up-and-go service in the way the Blue Line is. If you have a fixed flight time, check the timetable and plan for a possible wait on the platform. Metro Railway also began running a couple of direct trains between Jai Hind and Shahid Khudiram (New Garia) on weekdays on a trial basis in December 2025, one in the morning and one in the evening, which skip the Noapara change altogether. These may or may not still be running when you travel, so treat them as a bonus rather than a plan. For the full picture across the network, see our guide to Kolkata metro first and last train timings by line, and check the official Metro Railway Kolkata website for any schedule change notices.
Airport metro vs taxi vs bus: which is better?
The metro wins on price and on immunity to traffic. VIP Road and the airport approach are among the most congested stretches in the city at peak hours, and a taxi to Park Street can take an hour or more in the evening rush. The metro to Esplanade takes roughly 40 to 45 minutes including the change at Noapara, for a fraction of the cost. It also runs during the monsoon waterlogging that regularly stalls road traffic in the Dum Dum and Ultadanga belt.
The metro loses on three counts. It does not run late at night or early in the morning, so red-eye arrivals and pre-dawn departures still need a cab. It involves a platform change with luggage, which is fine with a cabin bag and tiring with two large suitcases. And it only serves the north-south spine directly, so anyone heading to Salt Lake, New Town, Sector V or the airport-adjacent hotels will find an app cab or the airport bus more practical. Our guide to getting from Kolkata airport to the city compares all the options, including prepaid taxis and the state bus services.
Practical tips for using the airport metro with luggage
Kolkata Metro has a baggage size and weight limit, and security at Jai Hind screens every bag through an X-ray machine, so oversized luggage may be refused. Standard airline check-in bags are generally fine, but a large trunk or a bicycle box is not. Use the lifts at Jai Hind and Noapara rather than the escalators when you have a wheeled case; both stations have them, but they can be at the far end of the platform, so look for the signs before you walk. Avoid the Blue Line between 9 am and 11 am and 5.30 pm and 8 pm if you can, since carriages from Dum Dum southwards are packed with commuters and a suitcase makes you unpopular. Buy a QR ticket in the app or a smart card if you plan to use the metro more than once during your stay, because the token queue at the airport can be slow when a flight has just landed. Finally, keep a small amount of cash for the token counter, since card and UPI acceptance can be patchy at the newer stations.
What comes next for the airport metro
Two projects will change how useful the airport metro is. The first is the Orange Line extension from New Garia to the airport, which will give Jai Hind a direct link to the EM Bypass, Ruby, Science City and eventually Salt Lake and New Town, turning the station into a proper interchange. The second is the Yellow Line’s own extension north towards Barasat, which will bring the northern suburbs onto the network. Both are under construction, and their opening dates have shifted repeatedly, so any date you see quoted should be treated as provisional until Metro Railway confirms it. For terminal information, flight status and ground transport details at the airport itself, the Airports Authority of India Kolkata page is the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Which metro station is closest to Kolkata airport?
Jai Hind, also signed as Bimanbandar, is the metro station at Kolkata airport. It is underground on airport land and connected to the terminal by a covered walkway, so there is no road crossing or shuttle involved.
How do I get from Kolkata airport to Esplanade or Park Street by metro?
Take the Yellow Line from Jai Hind to Noapara (the last stop), then change to a southbound Blue Line train towards Kavi Subhash. Esplanade is about 40 to 45 minutes from the airport in total, and Park Street is the next stop after Esplanade.
Does the Kolkata airport metro run on Sundays?
Yes. The Yellow Line runs seven days a week. Sunday services start later than on other days, at around 9.18 am, and finish around 9.30 pm, with trains roughly every 18 minutes.
Is there a metro from Kolkata airport to Howrah station?
Not a direct one. Take the Yellow Line to Noapara, the Blue Line to Esplanade, then the Green Line under the river to Howrah. It involves two changes and around an hour of travel, but it avoids the Howrah Bridge traffic entirely and has been reported at around Rs 50.
Can I take the airport metro for an early morning flight?
Only if your flight is late enough. The first train reaches the airport a little after 7.30 am on weekdays and Saturdays, and later on Sundays. For a flight departing before about 9.30 am, a prepaid taxi or app cab is the safer choice.
