Kolkata Durga Puja 2026 will bring extended Metro services, major traffic restrictions and a large security deployment as pandal-hopping intensifies across the city from Sashthi, with Kolkata Police preparing for crowds at 247 major pujas and thousands of smaller neighbourhood celebrations.
Kolkata Police will deploy 32,000 personnel during the festival, including home guards, NCC cadets and civil defence personnel, senior officers said. Ambulances will be stationed at 14 key locations, while around one lakh identification badges for children will be made available to help reunite families if children become separated in the crowds.
The police guide lists major crowd-pulling pujas including Mohammad Ali Park, Allen Park, Deshapriya Park, Suruchi Sangha, Chetla Agrani and Ballygunge Cultural Association. Security personnel will be deployed at 27 major pandals, while each police division will arrange coverage for 10 to 15 smaller pandals within its jurisdiction.
Traffic restrictions will affect goods vehicles from 8am on Friday to 3am on Saturday, from 8am on Saturday to 4am on Sunday, from 8am on Sunday to 4am on Monday, from 7am on Monday to 4am on Tuesday, and from 7am on Tuesday to 4am on Wednesday. Vehicles carrying emergency supplies and perishable goods will be exempted.
The city’s traffic and crowd-management network will also include 30 mobile control vans, 20 Heavy Radio Flying Squads, 10 Special Radio Flying Squads, 42 watchtowers and seven mobile assistance police vans. Three police launches will patrol the ghats. Police have advised commuters to consult route maps available on the force’s website and at police kiosks before travelling.
Public transport operators are preparing for extended demand. Government buses will run more frequently, while private bus operators have said services will continue until late at night. Autos will operate until 2pm on Sashthi and then remain off the roads. Metered taxis and app-based cabs, including services operating under the government’s Yatri Sathi initiative, will be available round the clock, although passengers have been warned to expect fare surges.
The Blue Line between Shahid Khudiram and Dakshineswar will run 284 services from 6am to 11pm on Sashthi, with trains arriving every six minutes during peak periods. From Saptami through Navami, it will operate 248 services daily from 1pm until 4am the following day. On Dashami, 140 services will run from 1pm to 10.30pm.
The Green Line between Sector V and Howrah Maidan will run 240 services from 6am to 11pm on Sashthi. From Saptami to Navami, it will operate 192 services daily from 1.30pm to 3.59am the following day. The Yellow Line between Noapara and the airport will run 120 services on Sashthi and 72 services daily from Saptami to Navami. The Purple Line between Joka and Majerhat will operate 38 services daily from Saptami to Dashami, while the Orange Line will have no commercial services during that period.
The weather may add another layer of difficulty for visitors. The forecast indicates rain spells are likely until Sunday, while Ashtami on Monday is expected to remain dry. Ashtami will also be the only dry day during the festival, with bars shut, including at star hotels and clubs. Some establishments have obtained permission to serve liquor for one or two hours after midnight on Tuesday.
The traffic restrictions, late-night Metro services and emergency arrangements will remain the key operational measures as Kolkata moves through the festival period. Police have asked commuters to plan routes in advance and follow the published restrictions while travelling between pandals.
