The Kolkata metro lines that matter most for daily travel are the Blue Line (Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash, north to south), the Green Line (Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V, west to east), the Purple Line (Joka to Majerhat, in the south-west) and the Orange Line (Kavi Subhash to Beleghata along the EM Bypass). Blue is the long spine of the city. Green is the cross-town link that passes under the Hooghly. Purple serves Behala and its surroundings, and Orange serves the eastern fringe. The only place where Blue and Green meet is Esplanade, and Orange begins where Blue ends, at Kavi Subhash. Fares on all lines follow distance-based slabs that start at Rs 5, and one smart card works across the network. This guide explains what each line does, where you can change, and which line to choose for common trips, so you can plan a journey without studying a map first.
Kolkata Metro Lines at a Glance
Kolkata has India’s oldest metro, and it has grown from a single north-south line into a network of several corridors. Not every line is the same length, runs at the same frequency, or operates on the same days, so it helps to know the basic character of each one before you travel.
The Blue Line (Line 1) has 26 stations and is by far the busiest. The Green Line (Line 2) has 12 stations over 16.6 km. The Purple Line (Line 3) currently has seven stations between Joka and Majerhat. The Orange Line (Line 6) currently has nine stations between Kavi Subhash and Beleghata. There is also a separate Yellow Line to the airport, which our airport metro guide covers. Colour names are used on signage and in announcements, so learn the colour of your line and the name of the last station in your direction of travel.
Blue Line: Dakshineswar to Kavi Subhash
The Blue Line runs the full length of the city from north to south, covering about 30 km. It passes Shobhabazar Sutanuti and Girish Park near the old north Kolkata neighbourhoods, then Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Esplanade and Park Street, and continues through Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Netaji Bhavan, Jatin Das Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar, Tollygunge and on to Kavi Subhash. For visitors, this is the line that reaches Dakshineswar temple, the Esplanade shopping area, Victoria Memorial (via Maidan or Rabindra Sadan), Kalighat temple and Rabindra Sarobar.
Because it is so long and so heavily used, the Blue Line is the line most affected by crowding at peak hours and by occasional engineering blocks. Our full Blue Line station guide lists every stop and what is near it.
Green Line: Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V
The Green Line, also called the East-West Metro, links Howrah, the central business district, Sealdah and Salt Lake. It is the only metro in India that passes beneath a river, running under the Hooghly between Howrah and Mahakaran. The six stations in Salt Lake are elevated, while the others are underground. A full end-to-end ride takes roughly 22 to 25 minutes.
Choose the Green Line when you are going between Howrah station and Sealdah station, between Esplanade and Sector V, or from the railway terminals to Salt Lake. See the Green Line guide for stations, fares and timings.
Purple Line: Joka to Majerhat
The Purple Line serves the south-western side of Kolkata, including Joka, Thakurpukur, Behala and Taratala, before ending at Majerhat. It is a short line with seven stations, and it is mainly useful for people living in or visiting Behala and the surrounding areas. At Majerhat you can connect to the suburban railway network. An extension toward Esplanade has been planned, which would eventually connect this corridor to the Blue and Green lines, but check the latest status before relying on it.
Anyone looking for housing along this corridor can read our PG guide for Behala, Thakurpukur and Joka, and the line itself is covered in detail in the Purple Line guide.
Orange Line: Kavi Subhash to Beleghata
The Orange Line runs along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, from Kavi Subhash (where it meets the Blue Line) to Beleghata, with nine stations. It opened in stages and has been extended after construction delays on the Chingrighata stretch were cleared. Unlike the Blue and Green lines, the Orange Line has had a more limited operating schedule, so confirm days and hours before planning a trip. Longer term, the line is planned to continue toward Sector V and the airport area.
Read the Orange Line guide for the station list, fares and timings.
Where the Kolkata Metro Lines Meet: Interchanges
Knowing the interchange points is the key to using several lines in one trip. Esplanade is the Blue and Green interchange, and the transfer involves a walk through connecting passages that can take a few minutes. Kavi Subhash is where the Blue Line ends and the Orange Line begins. The Purple Line is not yet linked to the other lines inside the metro network, so a trip from Behala to the city centre currently needs a bus, taxi or train connection for part of the way.
For step-by-step directions at each transfer point, use our metro interchange stations guide.
Which Metro Line Should You Take?
For north to south travel, such as Dakshineswar to Tollygunge, take the Blue Line. For Howrah to Sealdah or Salt Lake, take the Green Line. For Behala, Taratala and Joka, take the Purple Line. For the EM Bypass belt toward Beleghata, take the Orange Line from Kavi Subhash. For most visitors, Blue and Green together cover the main sights, the railway stations and the business districts, and a single transfer at Esplanade is usually all that is needed.
Kolkata Metro Fares, Tickets and Timings
Fares depend on the distance travelled and start at Rs 5 for the shortest journeys. A single rechargeable smart card works on every line, and tickets can be bought as tokens at counters or machines. Our ticket and smart card guide explains each option. Timings differ by line and by day of the week, with Sunday services starting later and finishing earlier, so check the first and last train timings guide before an early or late trip. For anything time-sensitive, such as special services during festivals or engineering blocks, rely on notices from Metro Railway, Kolkata.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kolkata Metro Lines
How many metro lines are there in Kolkata?
Passengers can currently use the Blue, Green, Purple, Orange and Yellow lines. The Blue and Green lines carry the most riders, while the others are shorter and serve specific parts of the city.
Which station connects the Blue Line and Green Line?
Esplanade. Follow the interchange signs from the platform level, and allow a few minutes for the walk between the two sets of platforms.
Does one ticket or smart card work on all metro lines?
The Kolkata Metro smart card works across the network. When you change lines inside the system, the fare is based on the total distance travelled.
Which metro line goes to Howrah and Sealdah stations?
The Green Line serves both. Howrah station sits directly above the Howrah metro station, and the Sealdah metro station is beside Sealdah railway station.
Is the Purple Line connected to the rest of the metro?
Not yet. It currently runs between Joka and Majerhat, and a planned extension toward Esplanade would link it to the other lines in future.
