Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that Kolkata Metro will induct 60 next-generation trains over the next five years as part of a major modernisation drive aimed at upgrading the country’s oldest metro network.
The announcement was made during the minister’s visit to Kolkata, where he reviewed ongoing railway and metro infrastructure projects and travelled on the metro network. Vaishnaw said the introduction of the new trainsets would mark a significant transformation in the city’s urban transit system and form a key component of a broader revamp programme for Kolkata Metro.
Highlighting the pace of metro development in the city, the minister noted that only 28 km of metro lines had been completed during the first 42 years of Kolkata Metro’s existence, whereas nearly 45 km of additional metro corridors have been added since 2014.
The planned induction of the new-generation trains is expected to support the expanding metro network, which is witnessing rapid growth through multiple corridor extensions and new routes. The upgraded rolling stock is intended to improve passenger comfort, operational efficiency, reliability, and service frequency across the system.
The announcement comes at a time when significant investments are being made in Kolkata Metro’s infrastructure. Recent approvals have included power system upgrades and capacity enhancement works on the North-South Corridor to support higher-frequency operations and growing passenger demand.
Kolkata Metro, which pioneered metro rail transportation in India, is currently undergoing one of the largest expansion phases in its history, with multiple new corridors under construction and several sections scheduled for commissioning in the coming years.
The addition of 60 next-generation trains is expected to strengthen the network’s ability to handle increasing ridership while supporting the city’s long-term urban mobility requirements. The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to modernise rail-based public transportation and improve connectivity across the Kolkata metropolitan
