Blue + Green
Line served
Interchange
Interchange · Blue ↔ Green
Underground
Structure
1984
Opened
About Esplanade
Esplanade is the central interchange of Kolkata Metro — the only station where the Blue Line meets the Green Line (East-West). It opened with the Blue Line in 1984; the Green Line platform opened on 22 August 2025.
The neighborhood (historically Dharmatala) is the commercial heart of Kolkata. The Maidan, Victoria Memorial, New Market, and Park Street are all easily reachable.
Esplanade is where Indian metro travel began: on 24 October 1984 the first train ran from here to Bhowanipore, and this station has been in service ever since. Four decades later it became something else as well — since 25 August 2025 it is the only place on the network where the Blue Line meets the Green Line, so the east–west route under the Hooghly connects to the north–south spine here and nowhere else. Above ground it is the city's central node for buses and trams, with the Maidan on one side and New Market on the other.
Station details
Station record: Wikipedia. Opening dates cross-checked against the opening timeline of the Blue Line.
Where is Esplanade?
Esplanade station is located in Esplanade / Dharmatala. Coordinates: 22.5645°N, 88.3500°E.
Nearby attractions and services
Within a short walk of Esplanade you have the following attractions and services.
Other stations on the Blue Line
Blue Line · Dakshineswar ↔ Kavi Subhash
Services and accessibility
Step-free access to the platform is documented here. Lifts go out of service for maintenance and no live status is published — check with staff if it is essential.
Connections and transfers
- Blue Line. Trains run towards Dakshineswar in one direction and Kavi Subhash in the other; the adjacent stops are Chandni Chowk and Park Street.
- Green Line. Trains run towards Howrah Maidan in one direction and Salt Lake Sector V in the other; the adjacent stops are Mahakaran and Sealdah.
- Interchange. Esplanade is one of only three places on the network where two metro lines meet. Follow the colour-coded signs through the linking concourse; allow a few minutes for the change.
- Tram. Esplanade is a terminus of both surviving tram routes — route 5 to Shyambazar and route 25 to Gariahat.
- Buses. The Esplanade terminus above the station is the largest bus interchange in central Kolkata.
Plan your journey from Esplanade
Pick a destination and see exact travel time, transfers, fare and estimated arrival from Esplanade.
🛤 Open route plannerCommon travel times from Esplanade
| Destination | Time | Fare (token) |
|---|---|---|
| Park Street | 2 min | ₹5 |
| Dum Dum | 16 min | ₹20 |
| Kavi Subhash | 28 min | ₹30 |
| Kalighat | 12 min | ₹15 |
| Howrah | 4 min | ₹5 |
| Salt Lake Sector V | 16 min | ₹20 |