With Durga Puja crowds now filling the city, Kolkata Metro Railway has put a heavier security cover over its network. According to announcements reported by UNI and The Statesman on October 16, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel and other staff will be stationed at 12 busy stations from October 16 to October 21, while four major interchange and terminal stations will be kept under special surveillance. If you plan to hop between pandals by Metro over the next few nights, this is what to expect and how to make the ride smoother.
Which Metro Stations Have Extra Security
Officials have named the following stations for deployment of RPF and Metro staff during the Puja days: Dakshineswar, Dum Dum, Shyambazar, Sovabazar-Sutanuti, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Park Street, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Masterda Surya Sen and Kavi Nazrul.
Esplanade, Howrah, Howrah Maidan and Sealdah are placed under special security surveillance. These are the big transfer points where Metro riders meet suburban rail and bus crowds, so they tend to see the sharpest rush after dark. The reports also say car sheds at Noapara, Tollygunge, Kavi Subhash, Central Park and Joka will have strengthened security during the Puja days.
What the Security Plan Includes
Based on the Metro Railway statement, the arrangements cover both the platforms and the less visible parts of the system:
- RPF and staff on platforms to manage crowds and keep passengers behind the yellow line, away from tunnel and viaduct areas.
- Quick Response Teams and Disaster Management Teams at stations and on trains, including women RPF personnel to look after women and children.
- Real-time CCTV monitoring by security control staff to spot crowd build-up early.
- Frequent public announcements, plus loudhailers, walkie-talkies and queue managers to guide and disperse crowds.
- Intelligence and detective wing staff watching crowded stations for suspicious activity.
- Patrols of midpoint shafts, cooling towers, pump houses and electrical substations.
- Additional booking counters at important stations to reduce queues.
Why This Matters for Pandal-Hoppers
The named stations line up closely with the Puja map. Shyambazar and Sovabazar-Sutanuti serve the north Kolkata pandals, Park Street and Mahatma Gandhi Road open up the central circuit, and Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Jatin Das Park and Masterda Surya Sen are the gateways to the south. Expect staff to meter entry on platforms at peak hours, which can mean short waits even when trains are frequent.
For timings, service patterns and line closures, see our guide on the Kolkata Metro Puja schedule. If you are heading to the central circuit, our Park Street guide is a useful companion.
Practical Tips for Metro Riders This Week
- Travel early in the evening. Crowds at Shyambazar, Park Street and Kalighat build up sharply after 8 PM.
- Follow RPF instructions and stay behind the yellow line, especially when a platform is being metered.
- Buy tokens or recharge your smart card earlier in the day to avoid long counter queues.
- Keep children and elderly family members close, and agree on a meeting point in case you get separated.
- Do not leave bags unattended and report anything suspicious to Metro staff.
- Have a backup route by bus or app cab in case a station is temporarily closed for crowd control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Until when is the extra Metro security in place?
The reported deployment runs from October 16 to October 21, which covers the main days of Durga Puja.
Which stations are under special surveillance?
Esplanade, Howrah, Howrah Maidan and Sealdah are under special security surveillance, as per the Metro Railway announcement.
Will trains run later at night?
Service patterns are announced separately by Metro Railway. Please check our Puja schedule guide linked above for the latest timings.
Are there women-specific safety arrangements?
Yes. Women RPF personnel are part of the Quick Response Teams at stations and on trains.
The Bottom Line
The extra security is meant to keep the Puja rush orderly, not to slow you down. Travel a little earlier, stay patient on crowded platforms, and listen to staff announcements. A calm ride on the Metro is still the quickest way to see the city’s best pandals.
Featured image: Commuters riding a train, photo by Snowscat on Unsplash.
Sources: Kolkata Metro Railway announcement as reported by UNI (October 16, 2026) and The Statesman (October 16, 2026). This article is independently written and details may change as authorities issue updates.
