‘Clear, fashionable, not overcrowded’: Foreigner’s Kolkata Metro reward goes viral, sparks debate on metropolis’s public transport – BusinessToday – Company Technique & Outlook

A overseas traveller’s reward for the Kolkata Metro has struck a chord on-line, after a put up describing a clean, uncrowded journey went viral on social media and triggered a wider debate on town’s public transport system.

The traveller shared their expertise after utilizing the Kolkata Metro, saying they have been pleasantly stunned by how comfy the trip was. Within the put up, they highlighted that the prepare was not overcrowded and described the system as “clear, fashionable, and good worth.”

“I have been on the #Kolkata Metro earlier than, however was impressed with the way it wasn’t overcrowded, together with being clear, fashionable, and good worth,” the traveller wrote, tagging #India and #NonstopEurotrip.

The put up rapidly gained traction, drawing a mixture of appreciation, scepticism and humour from customers. Some questioned whether or not the expertise mirrored typical journey situations.

“Since you are driving in morning,” one person commented, suggesting the timing might have influenced the expertise. The traveller pushed again, replying, “This was yesterday afternoon,” clarifying that it was not an early-morning trip.

Others reacted with sarcasm, pointing to what they see as a bent to downplay positives about sure Indian cities on-line. “You can’t say or put up constructive issues about Kolkata (or Chennai) in India. It’s prohibited by the Indian on-line neighborhood. Doesn’t swimsuit their narrative,” one person wrote, including a laughing emoji.

A number of customers additionally used the viral second to underline Kolkata’s function as a transport hub in japanese India. “Kolkata is the one metropolis within the japanese a part of India which has an operational metro service. Do get pleasure from and subsequent time deliver your loved ones,” one remark learn.

The Kolkata Metro holds a novel place in India’s city transport historical past. It’s the nation’s oldest speedy transit system, having begun operations in October 1984. Over the many years, the community has expanded steadily and now operates a number of strains protecting greater than 73 kilometres, with almost 58 operational stations throughout the metropolitan area. Extra corridors are below development, and future expansions are anticipated to take the full community size past 130 kilometres within the coming years.

Some of the important current milestones has been the complete operationalisation of the East-West Metro hall, connecting Salt Lake Sector V with Howrah Maidan, together with an under-river tunnel beneath the Hooghly. The hall has considerably improved east-west connectivity within the metropolis.

Ridership numbers underline the metro’s significance, with the community carrying over 8 lakh passengers on peak days, notably throughout festivals and high-traffic durations. Whereas commuters acknowledge crowding throughout rush hours, many on-line agreed that the Kolkata Metro stays reasonably priced, dependable and comparatively effectively maintained—qualities that, they are saying, deserve way more recognition than the system typically receives.