Metro Railway is planning to resume empty-train reversals at Kavi Subhash, also known as New Garia, from January 2027, even as reconstruction of the station is expected to continue for at least another year, according to Metro officials.
Under the proposed arrangement, trains travelling from Dakshineswar would drop their last passengers at Shahid Khudiram station before proceeding without passengers to Kavi Subhash. The trains would then switch tracks at New Garia and begin their return journey towards Dakshineswar.
A Metro official said, “It should start sometime in January 2027. When that happens, we will gain some operational headway,” as quoted by Telegraph. The official added that the arrangement could potentially allow Metro Railway to operate a couple of additional services during peak hours if the plan proceeds as scheduled.
Commercial services at Kavi Subhash were suspended on July 28, 2025, after cracks were detected in pillars supporting the platform. The damage was linked to soil subsidence following heavy rainfall.
The platform used by Dakshineswar-bound trains is being demolished and rebuilt. The roof and trusses are also being dismantled as part of the reconstruction. The demolition work is reportedly nearing completion, with reconstruction expected to follow.
Metro authorities plan to allow empty trains to enter the station and reverse there while passenger services remain suspended. The arrangement is similar to the station's earlier operational system, but safety measures will be put in place before it is resumed.
“We don’t want to rush. The former New Garia station was inaugurated in haste. This time, we will do the work foolproof,” the official said.
The rebuilt platform is planned with additional underground piles, columns and structural reinforcement. An official said construction work would depend partly on weather conditions and is likely to take at least a year.
Since July 29, 2025, Shahid Khudiram has been functioning as the southern terminus of the Blue Line. The station initially did not have a dedicated rake-reversal facility, which affected train operations and scheduling.
A reversal point was installed at Shahid Khudiram at the end of May 2026, allowing demolition work at New Garia to progress. Once Kavi Subhash becomes fully functional again, the crossover arrangement at Shahid Khudiram will no longer be required, according to Metro officials.
The closure of Kavi Subhash has also affected commuters because New Garia serves as an interchange point between the Blue Line and the New Garia–Airport Orange Line and is connected to the New Garia suburban railway station.
For now, Metro officials are targeting January 2027 for the resumption of empty-train reversals, while the full reconstruction and reopening of the station will take longer.
