Fares & tickets
Tokens, QR tickets and the Metro Smart Card — prices, where to buy, how to recharge and a built-in balance tracker for your Smart Card.
₹5
Minimum fare
₹30
Maximum fare
10 %
Smart Card bonus
₹1,000
Max card balance
How fares work on the Kolkata Metro
Metro Railway, Kolkata uses a distance-based zone fare — among the lowest in India — from ₹5 for the shortest hops up to ₹30 for the longest journeys. You can pay in three ways: a single-journey token bought for a specific trip, a QR ticket from the Aamar Kolkata Metro app, or the rechargeable Metro Smart Card, which gives a 10% bonus on value loaded.
Children below the height/age limit travel free when accompanied by an adult. To enter using a Smart Card you need at least ₹25 on the card (the maximum single fare), which is reconciled to the actual fare when you tap out.
Token & QR fares — fare table
Distance-based fares apply to tokens and QR tickets. Buy a token at any station counter or vending machine, or a QR ticket in the Aamar Kolkata Metro app.
| Trip length | Fare (token / QR) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 stations | ₹5 | ≈ US$0.06 |
| 3–5 stations | ₹10 | ≈ US$0.12 |
| 6–7 stations | ₹15 | ≈ US$0.18 |
| 8–10 stations | ₹20 | ≈ US$0.24 |
| 11–12 stations | ₹25 | ≈ US$0.30 |
| 13+ stations | ₹30 | ≈ US$0.36 |
Metro Smart Card
The Metro Smart Card is the official contactless rechargeable card for the Kolkata Metro. Tap in at the gate, tap out at your destination, and the correct distance-based fare is deducted automatically — with a 10% bonus on the value you load.
You buy the card for ₹100 / ₹200 / ₹300 / ₹500 / ₹1000, which includes a refundable ₹60 security deposit; the rest is travel credit you can use straight away. The minimum top-up is ₹50 and the card can hold up to ₹1,000.
The card is valid for 1 year from purchase or last top-up. Register it with photo ID at the counter so the balance can be recovered if the card is lost or damaged.
Issued by Metro Railway, Kolkata — the official fare card for the Kolkata Metro.
- Buy for₹100–₹1000
- Security deposit₹60
- Min. recharge₹50
- Max. balance₹1,000
- Bonus on load10 %
- Validity1 year
Smart Card balance tracker
Metro Railway, Kolkata shows your real-time Smart Card balance at station gates, vending machines and counters. To help between visits, this tool lets you track your balance privately in your browser: enter what was on your card last time, simulate a trip and see what remains. Everything is stored locally on your device — nothing is sent to us.
Recent activity
🔒 Your balance and history are stored only in your browser (localStorage). Nothing is sent to us or to Metro Railway, Kolkata. Clear your browser data to forget everything.
How to get your Metro Smart Card
Go to any Kolkata Metro station
Ticket counters and customer service desks are at the concourse level of every station.
Bring photo ID (recommended)
For a registered card — which protects your balance if the card is lost — bring your Aadhaar, passport or other photo ID. An anonymous card needs no ID.
Pay ₹100–₹1000
This includes a refundable ₹60 deposit; the rest is loaded as travel credit (with a 10% bonus) so you can ride immediately. Cash, UPI and cards accepted.
Tap & ride
Touch the card to the gate reader at entry and again at exit. The fare is deducted automatically.
How to recharge
There are several ways to top up your Metro Smart Card:
- Customer service counter at any station — hand over your card plus cash, UPI or card payment; the attendant recharges it on the spot. Minimum recharge is ₹50.
- Self-service recharge machines at major stations — touchscreen interface accepting cash, UPI and cards.
- Online / app — online recharge is being rolled out through the Kolkata Metro website and the Aamar Kolkata Metro app.
The maximum balance is ₹1,000. A 10% bonus is added on the value you load. We will post here right away if Metro Railway, Kolkata adds new recharge options.
Tokens, QR tickets and the app
For occasional trips, a token is the simplest option — buy it at the counter or vending machine, tap it at the entry gate and drop it in the slot at exit. The Aamar Kolkata Metro app lets you book a QR ticket on your phone and scan it at the AFC gate, skipping the queue entirely.
For regular travellers, the Metro Smart Card is the best value: a 10% bonus on stored value, faster boarding and no need to queue for a token each trip.
Bookmark this site before your next trip
We update kolkatametro.org the moment anything changes — schedule adjustments, service interruptions, fare updates and important Metro Railway, Kolkata notices. Save this page in your favourites and check it before travelling so you always have the latest information.