EXPLORE Kolkata

Kolkata arrival: the airport finally has a metro, civilization advances

HOLY SHIT. You actually made it to Kolkata, the city still listed as Calcutta in this tag but officially called Kolkata since 2001. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport sits northeast of the historic centre, so arrival time depends less on optimism than on traffic and your chosen district. International visitors should complete India’s required electronic arrival card within 72 hours before arrival. Keep the confirmation, hotel address and travel documents available offline. The terminal is large and busy, and the city beyond it is larger, busier and entirely uninterested in your belief that every neighbourhood near the Hooghly River is basically the same place.

Kolkata transport: metro, bus and prepaid taxis enter the same argument

The Yellow Line now connects Jai Hind Bimanbandar station at the airport with Noapara, where passengers can transfer into the wider metro system. Government information confirms the airport section opened in August 2025. The Airports Authority of India also lists air-conditioned buses to Howrah, Esplanade, Garia, Santragachi and Tollygunge, plus prepaid yellow taxis from counters between arrival gates 3 and 4 and round-the-clock radio taxis. Use the metro when its operating hours and connections suit your destination, a prepaid or app-based taxi for luggage and late arrivals, and buses when time is generous. Do not use the obsolete airport suburban-rail advice still lingering online. That line was replaced by the metro, because even transport facts eventually receive an upgrade.

Kolkata safety: protect the phone and respect the road

Kolkata is a major cultural and commercial city, but crowded markets, stations and festivals create opportunities for pickpocketing, scams and bag snatching. Keep valuables secured, use official prepaid or app-based taxis and share vehicle details with someone you trust. United Kingdom guidance warns against hailing street taxis alone at night and notes India’s high road-accident rate. Crossing traffic requires deliberate attention even at marked crossings, while monsoon rain can flood streets and delay airport transfers. Avoid demonstrations and large political gatherings, which can form quickly and disrupt transport or mobile service. The city rewards curiosity. It does not reward staring at a phone while stepping into six lanes of traffic with the confidence of a minor deity.

Sources

• Airports Authority of India Kolkata airport bus information
• Airports Authority of India Kolkata airport taxi information
• Government of India airport metro inauguration
• United Kingdom government India transport and safety guidance

Last verified: September 8, 2026