Kolkata Expands Last Mile Transport Links

Kolkata’s transport network has been expanded with the approval of two new auto corridors linking Babubazar to Mominpore and Rajabazar to Topsia, in a move aimed at strengthening last mile connectivity beyond the city’s primary arterial roads. Officials say the initiative is designed to ease daily commuting gaps in dense mixed-use neighbourhoods where buses and metro services are limited or indirect. The newly sanctioned routes permit a combined fleet of up to 75 three-wheelers. One corridor will operate between the Babubazar tram depot and Mominpore, moving through Ekbalpur and adjoining residential stretches before terminating at the designated stand. The second alignment connects Rajabazar tram depot to Topsia, passing through Canal West Road and Beleghata Main Road before reaching the 24 Number Bus Stand.

Transport authorities have capped vehicle numbers 25 on the Babubazar–Mominpore stretch and 50 on the Rajabazar–Topsia route to reduce the risk of congestion. Traffic police clearance has been secured, and the Rajabazar auto stand is being repositioned to the southern side of the crossing to prevent bottlenecks at one of central Kolkata’s busiest intersections. Urban planners note that targeted last mile connectivity solutions are increasingly critical in mature cities like Kolkata, where metro rail, tram lines and buses form the backbone of public transport but often fail to reach deep interior neighbourhoods. Autos serve as flexible feeders, connecting commuters from homes and markets to larger transit nodes. For working populations in Ekbalpur, Topsia and adjoining commercial clusters, shorter and predictable transfer points can reduce travel time and costs.

The move also has economic implications. Improved last mile connectivity can stimulate local commerce by increasing footfall in traditional bazaars and small industrial pockets. Rajabazar and Topsia, in particular, host wholesale markets and small manufacturing units that rely on informal transport links for labour mobility. However, experts caution that expansion must be aligned with broader climate and mobility goals. While auto-rickshaws fill essential service gaps, the long-term urban transport roadmap will require cleaner fuels, electrification and integrated ticketing to ensure emissions do not offset gains in accessibility. Fleet regulation and route rationalisation are therefore being viewed as early steps toward more structured, data-led mobility planning.

For residents, the immediate impact will be more reliable neighbourhood links without the need to depend solely on major roads or long walks to bus corridors. For the city, the decision signals a renewed focus on granular mobility planning, an essential component in building inclusive, resilient and economically active urban districts. If effectively monitored and gradually integrated with low-emission vehicle policies, such last mile connectivity upgrades could help Kolkata strengthen its public transport ecosystem while balancing congestion, climate concerns and equitable access.

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Kolkata Expands Last Mile Transport Links