The Kolkata Metro Railway has incurred a staggering loss of Rs 1,376.72 crore over the past three financial years, according to data presented in the Rajya Sabha.
This alarming figure highlights the ongoing financial struggles faced by the city’s metro system, which has been grappling with both operational and financial challenges despite efforts to improve ridership and operational efficiency.
In a written reply to BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya’s query about the financial performance of the Blue Line, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that Kolkata Metro does not maintain separate income and expenditure data for its individual lines.
"Accordingly, data for the Blue Line is not maintained separately," Vaishnaw said.
The data shared in the upper house of Parliament paints a grim picture for the metro, which recorded losses of Rs 487.37 crore in 2021-22, Rs 424.24 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 465.11 crore in 2023-24, totalling Rs 1,376.72 crore in just three years.
The Kolkata Metro project, which began in 1972, has seen the construction of a meagre 66-km metro line.
Currently, a total of 59 km of additional metro corridors are under construction in and around the city, which, once completed, are expected to boost ridership on the Blue Line.
Vaishnaw detailed several measures aimed at improving the metro's financial standing, including optimising train frequency and timetable, introducing energy efficiency steps, increasing ridership, and adopting pricing strategies.
The introduction of smart ticketing and cashless payments is also expected to play a crucial role in enhancing revenue.
Follow us
