Esplanade is an underground interchange metro station on the North–South corridor of the Blue Line and the East–West corridor of the Green Line of the Kolkata Metro.[3][4][5] It is located in the Esplanade area of central Kolkata, one of the city's principal commercial and administrative districts.
Opened in 1984 as part of India's first metro railway, the station has evolved into one of the busiest interchange hubs in the network.[3][5] It is situated at the northern end of Chowringhee Road, in proximity to major landmarks such as New Market and the Oberoi Grand.
The station has been extensively redeveloped to function as a multi-corridor interchange connecting the Blue, Green, and under-construction Purple Line.[13] The Line-2 (Green Line) complex, constructed beneath the original Line-1 structure, was inaugurated on 6 March 2024, with through connectivity to Sealdah operational from 22 August 2025.[6][8] The expanded station complex features modern passenger amenities and thematic murals depicting Kolkata’s cultural and historical heritage.[7][14]
History
editEsplanade metro station was opened in 1984 as part of the first stretch of the Kolkata Metro between Dum Dum and Tollygunge (now Mahanayak Uttam Kumar), marking the beginning of metro rail operations in India.[3][5]
Due to its central location in Kolkata’s commercial district, the station emerged as one of the busiest stations in the network over time.[5]
With the development of the East–West Metro corridor, Esplanade was identified as a major interchange point. Construction of the new underground complex beneath the existing Blue Line infrastructure involved deep excavation and structural modification of the operational station.[15]
The Green Line platforms at Esplanade were inaugurated on 6 March 2024 as part of the Esplanade–Howrah Maidan section.[6][8] Subsequent extension towards Sealdah became operational on 22 August 2025, establishing Esplanade as a key interchange between multiple corridors.[6]
Station layout
editEsplanade is a multi-level underground interchange station comprising interconnected complexes for different metro corridors. The original Blue Line platforms, along Chowringhee Road, are located at a relatively shallow depth, while the newer Green Line platforms, along Rani Rashmoni Avenue, are constructed at a greater depth beneath them.[7]
The station has been designed to handle high passenger volumes, with multiple entry and exit points, interconnecting passages, escalators, and lifts.[13] The layout enables interchange between corridors within a single paid area.
North–South line
editOn the second basement (L2) level, a single underground island platform serves two tracks.
| G | Street level | Exit/Entrance |
| L1 | Mezannine | Fare control, station agent, Ticket/token, shops, crossover, subway to Green Line |
| L2 | Platform 2 | Train towards Shahid Khudiram (Park Street) → |
| Island platform, Doors will open on the right | ||
| Platform 1 | ← Train towards Dakshineswar (Chandni Chowk) | |
East–West line
editThe Green Line station employs a Spanish solution with a combination of island and side platforms to facilitate efficient passenger movement.[7]
| G | Ground level | Exit/Entrance, Curzon Park |
|---|---|---|
| L1 | Concourse | Fare control, station agent, Ticket/token, shops, crossover, subway to Blue Line |
| L2 | Side platform, Doors will open on the left  | |
| Platforms 1A / 1B | Train towards Salt Lake Sector-V (Sealdah) → | |
| Island platform, Doors will open on both sides | ||
| Platforms 2A / 2B | ← Train towards Howrah Maidan (Mahakaran) | |
| Side platform, Doors will open on the left | ||
Entry/exits
editBlue Line
edit- 1 – Lenin Sarani, Motisil Street, Tipu Sultan Mosque, Chandni Chowk Market, Victoria House, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, S.N. Banerjee Road, New Market
- 2 – Raj Bhavan, Bentink St., CTC Bus & Tram depot, Rani Rashmoni Road, Eden Gardens, High Court, Netaji Indoor Stadium, Akash Bani Bhavan
- 3 – Bidhan Market, Shahid Minar, SBSTC Bus Stand, Press Club
- 4 – Peerless Inn, J.L. Nehru Road, New Market, Grand Hotel, Lindsay Street, Fire Station H.Q.
Green Line
edit- A – WBTC Bus Stand, Curzon Park, Raj Bhavan, Eden Gardens
- B – Chowringhee Road, JL Nehru Road, Chandni Chowk Market, Victoria House, Lindsay Street
Design and architecture
editThe redeveloped Esplanade metro station incorporates modern design elements along with artistic features reflecting Kolkata’s heritage. The interiors of the Green Line complex include extensive murals and thematic installations depicting the city's culture, history, transport systems, and notable landmarks.[16][17]
The station features wide concourses, improved lighting, and modern passenger amenities designed to accommodate heavy footfall.[13] Signage and circulation systems have been planned to ensure smooth interchange between lines.
Future developments
editEsplanade is planned to serve as the eastern terminal of the Purple Line (Joka–Esplanade corridor), which is currently under construction.[13]
Upon completion, the station will become a three-line interchange, further strengthening its role as the central hub of the Kolkata Metro network.
Gallery
edit
Esplanade metro signage
Esplanade metro construction gate
Platform level
Esplanade metro station blue-green line interchange from Blue line Complex
Esplanade metro station blue-green line interchange from Green line Complex
Diaphragm wall installation at purple line Esplanade metro complex
See also
editOther Wikimedia projects
edit
Kolkata/Esplanade travel guide from Wikivoyage- Kolkata/Maidan travel guide from Wikivoyage
References
edit- ↑ Chakraborty, Ajanta (23 November 2020). "East-West Metro ready with structure of country's second deepest Metro station at Esplanade". The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
East-West Metro's 28m-deep Esplanade station is now structurally complete.
- ↑ "Kolkata Metro". Lee Harris Pomeroy Architects. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Welcome to Metro Railway, Kolkata". Archived from the original on 20 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
- 1 2 "Calcuttaweb - Metro -underground subway railway system". Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "UrbanRail.Net > Asia > India > West Bengal > Kolkata (Calcutta) Metro". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- 1 2 3 4 "Metro Railway Kolkata / Indian Railways Portal". mtp.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 "India's deepest Metro station at Howrah also to be the largest". The Times of India. 1 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Metro Railway Kolkata / Indian Railways Portal". mtp.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ Google Maps
- ↑ Kharagpur-Howrah Local 38606 Indiarailinfo
- ↑ Howrah-Haldia Local 68689 ⇒ 38089 Indiarailinfo
- ↑ Santragachi-Digha EMU 78001 ⇒ 68687 Indiarailinfo
- 1 2 3 4 "Metro Railway Kolkata / Indian Railways Portal". mtp.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "Freedom struggle to transport icons, new EW stns to showcase Kolkata's heritage". The Times of India. 29 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "East-West Metro ready with structure of country's second deepest Metro station at Esplanade". The Times of India. 23 November 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "Freedom struggle to transport icons, new EW stns to showcase Kolkata's heritage". The Times of India. 29 February 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ↑ "E-W Esplanade Metro stn gets finishing touches". The Times of India. 29 January 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
External links
edit- kolmetro
- UrbanRail.Net – descriptions of all metro systems in the world, each with a schematic map showing all stations.
- "Esplanade station" (Map). Google Maps.
