Kolkata: Suburban passengers take Metro to Sealdah – Times of India

KOLKATA: The first day seemed promising enough to convince a section of office-goers, who take suburban trains back home, to avail of East-West Metro for their journey from Sector V to Sealdah in the evening.
“The first day is too early to ascertain shifts. But some seemed open to the idea of travelling by Metro to Sealdah from Sector V and then take local trains. Those taking trains from Bidhannagar station were expected to do so. But more than them, commuters who boarded trains from Garia, availed of the locals from Sealdah,” said a transport planner whom police had approached for opinions. “While returning in the evening, I took the Metro from Karunamoyee to Sealdah. I got a seat on a Gayeshpur local, too.With time, I will try taking Metro even in mornings,” said Ujjal Das, an office-goer.
Staff associated with buses and cops said passengers on private buses from Sealdah to Salt Lake and New Town dropped, especially in the evening. Autos at Sealdah and Ultadanga plied normally but buses headed for Karunamoyee and Sector V lost out on passengers. They were forced to extend their routes to Shapoorji in New Town.
Police said traffic did not slow down in the Sealdah area either. “We have put men at all channels being used by public transport. We functioned like any other day,” said a cop at the Sealdah traffic guard.