Kolkata: Metro Railway recorded a new Durga Puja ridership milestone in 2026, carrying 61.51 lakh passenger journeys between Panchami and Dashami. That compares with 46.56 lakh over the corresponding six-day period a year earlier—an increase of roughly 32%, according to figures released by the railway and reported on 22 October.
One day crossed 12 lakh journeys
Sasthi was the busiest day, with approximately 12.01 lakh riders, described by Metro Railway as its highest-ever single-day footfall. Among stations, Dum Dum saw the largest passenger flow during the festival period, at more than 4.97 lakh journeys, followed by Kalighat at more than 4.83 lakh and Sealdah at over 4.19 lakh.
The figures are counts of rides rather than unique individual people, since one traveller can make multiple trips during the festival.
Why the record matters
For many Puja visitors, the metro is a practical way to travel between pandal-hopping areas while avoiding long road journeys. The numbers show how festival demand can put extraordinary pressure on stations, platforms, staff and train scheduling.
Metro Railway reported deploying security and crowd-management personnel, monitoring CCTV feeds and coordinating passenger flow. A technical disruption at Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station on Ashtami nevertheless interrupted Blue Line services for a period, a reminder that transport reliability matters as much as record traffic.
The test for next year
Future Puja plans will need to account for predictable surges and pinch points around high-footfall stations. Clear entry and exit management, real-time service alerts and coordinated pedestrian routes can make the difference between a busy but manageable station and a dangerous crowd.
Mojo Pulse perspective: A record number is an achievement only when backed by safe, accessible journeys. Festival transport should be judged on both capacity and the experience of passengers using it.
Sources and reporting basis
This report is an original Mojo Pulse newsroom summary and analysis based on the attributed reporting below. Dates and facts are stated as reported; developments may change.
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