It’s that time of year when Kolkata, often known as the City of Joy, comes alive with festive excitement during Durga Puja. This celebration is not just popular in West Bengal; it attracts visitors from around the world who come to partake in the festivities. In 2021, Durga Puja was recognized by UNESCO as an important part of Intangible Cultural Heritage, making it the first festival from Asia to receive this honor. And in 2025, to help tourists have a convenient and enjoyable experience during Durga Puja, Kolkata Metro has introduced a Tourist Smart Card. This card allows for unlimited travel for three or five days, making it easier for both local and international guests to navigate the city’s expanding Metro system, which includes both underground and suburban services, without the hassle of cash transactions.
Also Read: unstumbled’s detailed Kolkata Travel Guide
What To Know About Kolkata Metro’s Tourist Smart Card
As the number of daily commuters is projected to increase to 1.1–1.2 million during the festival, compared to over 900,000 in 2024, this initiative aims to ease congestion and simplify travel during one of the city’s busiest periods. Kolkata Metro officials announced that this new card will facilitate smoother transit for the expected influx of tourists and daily users during this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.
The Tourist Smart Card for Durga Puja comes in two options: a three-day card priced at INR 250 and a five-day card at INR 550, allowing unlimited travel on the Metro network for the duration of the card.
This card is ideal for tourists and pandal visitors who plan to make multiple trips each day, as it eliminates the need for standing in line for tokens or reloading pay-as-you-go cards. Cards can be bought at ticket counters in all metro stations. Unlike regular Smart Cards, which charge per trip and offer a small bonus on recharges, the Tourist Smart Card provides unrestricted travel for a fixed fee, making it an economical choice for short-term visitors.
Regular commuters can still use mobile QR tickets through the ‘Aamar Kolkata Metro’ app, which offers a 5 per cent fare rebate.
Kolkata Metro Also Launches Special Services For Durga Puja
The Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata will begin on September 28 and continue for five days until October 2, attracting huge crowds. To accommodate the increased passenger demand, Kolkata Metro is improving its services on the Green Line, which connects Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V. From Monday to Saturday, the number of daily services will rise to 226 from 186, with trains running every six minutes during peak morning and evening hours.
You can read our Kolkata Metro Guide here.
Durga Puja In Kolkata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee kicked off the 2025 Durga Puja pandal inauguration on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Tala Prattoy in north Kolkata. Over the next five days, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate over 3,000 pandals throughout the state.
