If you were planning a Sunday run to Gariahat or Esplanade from the southern end of the Blue Line today, check your route before you leave the house. Metro Railway Kolkata has taken a traffic and power block on the southern stretch of the north-south corridor for most of Sunday, 13 September 2026, and there are no trains between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge) and Shahid Khudiram (Briji) from 9 am until the evening. With nothing running north of Shahid Khudiram, that also leaves Blue Line passengers at Kavi Subhash (New Garia) without an onward train for the day.
The rest of the line is running. Trains continue between Dakshineswar and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, so commuters in north and central Kolkata are largely unaffected. It is the stretch south of Tollygunge, the one that feeds Garia, Naktala, Bansdroni and the wider Tollygunge belt, that is out of action until roughly 6:30 pm.
What Metro Railway has announced
The public notice, posted by Metro Railway Kolkata on Friday, 12 September, says the block is being taken between Gitanjali and Kavi Nazrul stations for maintenance, specifically the de-stressing of rails on that section. Rail de-stressing is routine track work in which long welded rails are adjusted to relieve the internal stress that builds up with temperature swings and heavy use. It has to be done with the power switched off and no trains moving, which is why the block covers a whole section rather than a single station.
Because trains cannot be turned back at every station, the operational shutdown extends well beyond the two stations where the work is happening. The full picture for today:
- No service: between Shahid Khudiram and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, in both directions, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
- Stations affected: Netaji (Kudghat), Masterda Surya Sen (Bansdroni), Gitanjali (Naktala), Kavi Nazrul (Garia Bazar) and Shahid Khudiram (Briji). Mahanayak Uttam Kumar remains open as the southern terminal for the day.
- Normal service: between Dakshineswar and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar throughout the day.
- Expected resumption: Metro Railway says service on the closed stretch may be available after 6:30 pm, and has described that timing as tentative.
- Other lines: the Green Line (East-West), Purple Line (Joka to Majerhat) and Orange Line (New Garia to Airport) are not part of this block and should run their usual Sunday timetable.
Why this Sunday hurts more than most
Metro Railway usually schedules heavy maintenance on Sundays because ridership is lowest and a long block causes the least disruption. The timing this year is awkward, though. Durga Puja is just over a month away, and the second and third Sundays of September are when the city’s shopping districts fill up. Gariahat, New Market, Hatibagan and the malls along EM Bypass all draw families from the southern suburbs who would ordinarily ride the Blue Line to Kalighat, Rabindra Sadan or Esplanade and walk from there.
The closed stations also sit in some of the densest residential pockets in south Kolkata. Garia, Naktala, Bansdroni and Kudghat have grown up around the metro since the line was extended south in the late 2000s, and for many households there the metro is the default way into the city rather than one option among several.
How to get around the block today
If you are starting from Garia, Naktala or Bansdroni and heading north, your realistic choices are:
- Bus or auto to Tollygunge, then metro. Auto routes run from Garia and Naktala towards Tollygunge along the NSC Bose Road corridor, and several bus routes along the same road stop near the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station entrance. Expect the autos to be busier than usual and the wait at the Tollygunge stand to be longer.
- Orange Line from Kavi Subhash to the Bypass. Kavi Subhash at New Garia, one stop south of Shahid Khudiram, is where the Blue Line meets the Orange Line, and the Orange Line is not affected by this block. If your destination is along the Bypass, Salt Lake or towards the airport side, riding the Orange Line and switching to a bus or cab at a Bypass station may be faster than heading to Tollygunge.
- Bus straight into the city. Routes along Prince Anwar Shah Road, NSC Bose Road and the Bypass connect Garia and Tollygunge to Gariahat, Park Circus, Esplanade and Howrah. Travel time is longer than the metro but there is no change involved.
- App cabs and Yatri Sathi. Sunday afternoon fares tend to be reasonable, but expect surge pricing near the closed stations around midday if the weather turns.
Coming back is the same problem in reverse. If you are returning to the southern suburbs before 6:30 pm, get off at Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and continue by road. If you are returning later, check whether service has resumed before you assume the train will take you all the way to Garia. Metro Railway has been careful to call the resumption time tentative.
Practical tips for today
- Give yourself an extra 30 to 45 minutes each way if your trip involves any of the closed stations.
- Do not buy a token or QR ticket to a closed station. Book to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and switch to road transport there.
- If you have a smart card, note that it will only work between operational stations today. There is no reason to expect a balance issue, but if you are unsure, ask at the counter before tapping in.
- Rain is still in the forecast for Kolkata this weekend. If you are switching to autos or buses on the Tollygunge side, carry an umbrella and expect slower road traffic if a shower comes through.
- Follow the official Metro Railway Kolkata handle on X for the resumption notice rather than relying on word of mouth on the platform.
If you are new to the network, our Kolkata Metro route guide explains how the Blue, Green, Purple and Orange lines connect, and our ticket and smart card guide covers tokens, QR tickets and fares.
Frequently asked questions
Is the entire Blue Line closed today?
No. Only the section between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Shahid Khudiram is closed. Trains are running normally between Dakshineswar and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar.
What time does the metro start running again to Garia?
Metro Railway has said service between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Shahid Khudiram may resume after 6:30 pm on Sunday, 13 September. The authority has described the timing as tentative, so check for an official update before travelling in the evening.
Which stations are closed?
Netaji, Masterda Surya Sen, Gitanjali, Kavi Nazrul and Shahid Khudiram will not have any trains during the block. Mahanayak Uttam Kumar stays open as the temporary southern terminal.
Is the Orange Line running from Kavi Subhash?
Yes. This block only concerns the Blue Line. The Orange Line, along with the Green and Purple lines, is not covered by the notice and should operate on its normal Sunday schedule.
Why is maintenance being done on a Sunday before Puja?
Sunday blocks are standard practice because weekend ridership is far lower than on weekdays. The work, de-stressing of rails between Gitanjali and Kavi Nazrul, is preventive track maintenance that is better done now than during the festival rush in October, when the line carries some of its heaviest crowds of the year.
The Bottom Line
For most of Sunday, the Blue Line stops at Tollygunge. If you live or are headed anywhere between Kudghat and Garia, plan on completing that leg by auto, bus or cab, and build in time for it. The block is a scheduled maintenance job, not a fault, and the line should be back to normal by the evening. Just confirm that before you rely on it for the trip home.
Sources: Public notice issued by Metro Railway Kolkata (@metrorailwaykol) on 12 September 2026 regarding the traffic and power block between Gitanjali and Kavi Nazrul stations on 13 September 2026, including the stated service suspension between KSKD and KMUK from 09:00 to 18:00 hrs and tentative resumption after 18:30 hrs. Cross-checked against reports in The Sunday Guardian (12 September 2026), Bangla Hunt (12 September 2026) and KTV Bangla (13 September 2026). Station and alternative route details are from Kolkata Dekho’s own coverage of the metro network.
Featured image: a metro train passing through an underground station, photo by Brad Bang on Unsplash.
