Purple Line (Kolkata Metro)

History

Previously, the stretch from Thakurpukur to Majerhat was surveyed as a branch line of the circular railway, and a metro line from Majerhat to Dakshineswar via Sealdah (interchange with Green Line) was planned. This plan was scrapped and a new metro line from further south in Joka to BBD Bagh was sanctioned in 2010–2011 with a total length of 17.22 km (10.70 mi) at an anticipated cost of ₹2,619.02 crore (equivalent to ₹64 billion or US$670 million in 2026). Later the route was truncated to Esplanade. The corridor runs along Diamond Harbour Road, Khidirpur Road, and Jawaharlal Nehru Road, major arterial roads of Kolkata, and has passenger interchange facilities with the Blue Line and Green line at Esplanade and Blue line at Park street. The proposed Esplanade station will not be the same as that of the Blue Line and Green Line but a different station that will be built at B.C. Roy market ground. The line now has a new depot in Joka. Due to land acquisition problems and objections from the Ministry of Defence, construction has been delayed several times since the beginning. Defence Ministry objected that the elevated corridor would overlook the Eastern Command headquarters at Fort William, Ordinance Depot at Mominpore. The change in alignment from elevated to underground increased the construction cost of the stretch from ₹139 crore (equivalent to ₹179 crore or US$19 million in 2026) to ₹3,000 crore (equivalent to ₹39 billion or US$400 million in 2026). The work resumed in several phases and new bids were invited by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) in April 2020. It is India's first metro line to run on indigenous head hardened rails, manufactured by Jindal Steel & Power. The extension of this line to IIM and Diamond Park for 2 km (1.2 mi) was sanctioned in the 2012–2013 Budget at a cost of ₹294.49 crore (equivalent to ₹606 crore or US$63 million in 2026). The work is being executed by RVNL.

The Mominpur metro station was planned to be built across a 2500 sq. m area. However, the Ministry of Defence objected to the elevated structure, saying that it would overlook the Ordnance depot. This forced RVNL to stall the entire project, and RVNL almost dropped the station from the plan even though it alone would have a projected 20,000 passengers during peak hours. Underground Mominpur station was also not possible due to the sharp gradient from Taratala metro station. After a series of discussions and consultations with the Ministry of Defence and Government of West Bengal in 2016, it was decided to shift the station around 1 km (0.62 mi) northward, near the Alipore Bodyguard Lines. But, after a year Defence Ministry approved the Mominpur metro station in its original location as the change in alignment would have delayed the project and budget overrun. It will be the last elevated station of the corridor. Now, the proposed underground Khidirpur metro station is planned at the Alipore Bodyguard Lines. There were also hurdles regarding clearance for tunneling under defence lands. In 2020, the Defence Ministry eased out the process as lease rent wasn't required anymore for tunneling as long the overground ownership of the land did not change. On 30 December 2022 the Joka - Taratala section and on 6 March 2024, the Taratala - Majerhat section was inaugurated remotely by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, completing the 7.75 km Phase 1 stretch.

Commercial Operations between Joka and Majerhat began on 6 March 2024

The service starts from Joka starts at 6:40 am and at Majherhat from 7:03 am and ends at Joka at 9:05 pm and at Majherhat at 9:26 pm , with 84 pairs of services from Monday to Friday. The trains run at a frequency of first 2 service from Joka and 1 service from Majerhat are 23 minutes and rest services are 21 minutes.

In a separate development, Kolkata metro has announced that the Purple Line, running between Joka and Majerhat, will be available on Saturdays as well. The services are expected to cater to the large population employed in the IT sector.

The services have begun on 22 November 2025. According to a press release by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation, a total of 40 services, 20 UP and 20 Down, will operate every Saturday at an interval of 21 minutes.

On Saturdays, the first train will depart from Joka to Majerhat at 1:25 PM, while the first train from Majerhat will leave at 1:49 PM for Joka. The last service from Joka to Majerhat will run at 8:11 pm. The final train from Majerhat to Joka will depart at 8.32 pm. The frequency of first 2 trains from Joka are 28 minutes and first 1 train from Majerhat is 24 minutes, rest services are of 21 minutes. There are no services on Sundays.

On 12 January 2025, it was reported that Metro authorities decided to extend the line to Eden Gardens instead of Esplanade to facilitate commuters and connect Strand Road, BBD Bag and Calcutta High Court. Subsequently, in March 2025 railways sanctioned ₹1,000 crore (equivalent to ₹21 billion or US$210 million in 2026) for the extension.

On 25 March 2025, The Times of India reported that Metro railway sent a proposal to Ministry of Railways to extend the Diamond Park Branch to Tollygunge, which will be 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long. In this route three underground station at Thakurpukur Cancer Hospital, Ramchandrapur and Panchanantala will come.