TECHNICAL FAILURE DISRUPTS KOLKATA METRO AT PEAK ASHTAMI RUSH, BLUE LINE RESTORED AFTER AN HOUR

October 19, 2026

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 19: Thousands of Durga Puja revellers faced disruption on Monday evening after a technical glitch affected Kolkata Metro’s North-South corridor during the heavy passenger rush on Maha Ashtami.

The problem developed at Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station in Tollygunge at around 5.31 pm, forcing Metro authorities to operate truncated services between Maidan and Dakshineswar in both directions. The disruption came at a particularly busy time, as large numbers of people were using the Metro to travel across the city and visit Durga Puja pandals.

The technical fault temporarily prevented normal operations along the affected stretch of the Blue Line, inconveniencing passengers who rely on the underground railway to avoid traffic congestion during the festive season.

Metro officials said the issue was resolved and services across the entire Blue Line were restored at 6.23 pm, bringing the disruption to an end after approximately an hour.

The incident once again highlighted the importance of reliable public transport during Kolkata’s Durga Puja celebrations, when passenger numbers rise sharply and the Metro becomes a major means of reaching pandals across the city. Monday’s disruption affected commuters during one of the festival’s busiest evenings, although normal services were subsequently resumed.