Plea In Calcutta High Court Seeks Extension Of Metro Service Timings, Says Last Train's Timing Being Earlier Than All Major Cities Causes Inconvenience To Commuters

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday disposed of a PIL seeking an extension of metro timings in Kolkata by directing the railway authorities to consider the petitioner's prayer for an extension of the timings for the last metro by 45 minutes every day. 

A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya said:

"While the domain of running metro services is the expertise of the railways and the court cannot comment on the same, we direct the authorities to consider the representation made by the petitioner for extension of metro timings by 45 minutes, till 10:30pm for the benefit of the commuters."

The petitioner contended that the last North-South metro in Kolkata originated at 9:40 pm, while in all other major cities, the timings for the same were around 11 pm.

It was submitted that an extension in timing would be beneficial for students, working professionals and anyone who depended on the metro services to connect between their work and home.

Petitioners prayed that the metro timings in Kolkata could be extended by 45 minutes, till 10:30 pm, which would be beneficial for all concerned.

Counsel for the respondents argued that such relief cannot be granted in a PIL, since metro timings were a matter of policy, and were decided by the railways.

Upon hearing the arguments, the Court noted that while a direction could not be issued on the railways at the present instant, the petitioner would be free to espouse his grievance before the authorities who would be required to consider the same.

Accordingly, the plea was disposed of.

Case:  AKASH SHARMA VS UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Case No: WPA(P)/154/2024

Ctiation: 2024 LiveLaw (Cal) 103