Kolkata Metro overcrowding intensified on Shashthi as thousands of Durga Puja visitors crowded stations and trains, leaving doors unable to close at several stops and forcing police personnel to remove passengers in some cases, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin.
The crowd surge began during Panchami and continued into Shashthi, with stations including Chandni Chowk and Esplanade witnessing heavy passenger movement from the afternoon. The report said Metro trains were packed, while services were taking longer to depart because doors could not be closed immediately at several stations.
The situation also affected train operations. Multiple Metro services were reportedly cancelled on Panchami, adding to the pressure on the trains that continued running. With large numbers of passengers attempting to board the same services, commuters faced prolonged waits and difficulty entering or leaving trains.
Police personnel were seen pulling passengers out of overcrowded coaches at some stations, the report said. Metro authorities repeatedly advised passengers not to board already full trains, but the warnings had limited effect as visitors tried to reach pandals quickly and maximise the time available for idol viewing.
Passenger demand rose through the day on Shashthi as people travelled to visit puja sites across Kolkata. The pressure was not limited to the Metro network. Sealdah-bound local trains also experienced heavy crowds, according to the report, indicating that the festival rush was affecting more than one component of the city’s public transport system.
The annual expansion of pandal-hopping activity has increased the importance of transport operations during the early days of Durga Puja. The report noted that many residents now begin visiting pujas from Tritiya, rather than waiting until the traditional peak days, extending the period of high travel demand across the city.
To ease the pressure on passengers, the railway has decided to operate additional trains from Saptami, the report said. The move is intended to provide more capacity on the suburban network as festival travel continues. The report did not provide details of the number, routes or timings of the additional services.
The immediate operational challenge for Kolkata Metro and suburban rail is managing passenger volumes at stations where demand rises sharply within a short period. For commuters, the key concerns remain safe boarding, reliable train frequency and the ability to move through stations without prolonged stoppages. Further details on additional services and crowd-management arrangements are expected as the Puja travel period continues.
