Haldia–Kolkata Government Bus Service: Daily Evening Bus Now Available, Check Timings and Fare Details

KOLKATA: Commuters travelling between Haldia and Kolkata have received another public transport option, with a new daily government bus service introduced by the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC). The service is particularly significant for people who travel to Haldia’s industrial belt for work and need a direct public transport option to return to Kolkata after office hours.

The latest service was introduced from September 1, 2026, adding an evening connection to the existing Haldia–Kolkata transport network. According to a report published on September 4, the new service operates between the Haldia SBSTC bus depot and Karunamoyee in Kolkata, with the service designed to address the lack of a convenient direct government bus during the evening hours.

The development comes shortly after another SBSTC service on the Haldia–Kolkata corridor was introduced in August. That earlier service was launched from Haldia Township and operated through Manjusri, Sutahata, Chaitanyapur, Mahishadal, Tamluk and Mecheda before reaching Kolkata.

Evening connectivity gets a boost

For years, Haldia has remained one of the major industrial centres of eastern India, with substantial daily movement of employees, workers, traders and other commuters between the township and Kolkata. While buses have been available on the route, the availability of a direct government-operated service at a convenient evening hour has been a particular concern for those finishing work late in the day.

The newly introduced service attempts to fill that gap.

The bus leaves Kolkata’s Karunamoyee at 6.55 am on its return journey towards Haldia. In the opposite direction, the service is scheduled to leave Kolkata at around 6.30 pm for Haldia, providing an evening travel option for passengers heading back towards the industrial town.

The return journey from Karunamoyee towards Haldia follows a route via Dunlop and the Nivedita Setu, according to the latest report. This gives passengers travelling towards the Haldia side an alternative to relying exclusively on private buses or changing services during their return journey.

The service was inaugurated by Haldia MLA Pradip Kumar Bijli, with the stated objective of improving connectivity for people who regularly travel between the industrial zone and Salt Lake and Kolkata for employment and other purposes.

What is the timetable?

At present, commuters should distinguish between the newly introduced evening-oriented service and the separate Haldia–Kolkata government bus that began operating in August.

The August service departs from Haldia Township at 8.15 am every day and leaves Kolkata on its return journey at 1.45 pm. It travels through Manjusri, Sutahata, Chaitanyapur, Mahishadal, Tamluk and Mecheda. The bus was initially introduced with one vehicle, with the possibility of increasing the fleet depending on passenger demand.

The newer service, launched from September 1, is aimed at strengthening the later part of the day’s connectivity. The reported schedule places the Kolkata-side departure at 6.30 pm, while the corresponding service from Karunamoyee towards Haldia leaves at 6.55 am.

Since government bus schedules can be revised according to operational requirements, passengers planning an important journey should confirm the day’s departure time locally before travelling.

Haldia to Kolkata fare: What commuters need to know

The August-launched Haldia–Kolkata government service carries a reported fare of Rs 109 for the full Haldia–Kolkata journey.

The published fare structure for intermediate destinations is Rs 31 up to Mahishadal, Rs 35 up to Nandakumar, Rs 42 up to Tamluk, Rs 59 up to Kolaghat, Rs 77 up to Uluberia and Rs 102 up to Santragachi.

Journey Reported fare
Haldia – Kolkata ₹109
Haldia – Mahishadal ₹31
Haldia – Nandakumar ₹35
Haldia – Tamluk ₹42
Haldia – Kolaghat ₹59
Haldia – Uluberia ₹77
Haldia – Santragachi ₹102

It is worth noting that the fare figures above relate to the newly introduced Haldia–Kolkata government service reported in August. The September evening service’s report focuses primarily on its timings and connectivity, rather than publishing a separate detailed fare chart. Therefore, passengers should not automatically assume that every fare on the newer service is identical without checking at the depot or with the conductor.

Why the new service matters

The importance of the development goes beyond simply adding another bus to an already busy route.

Haldia’s industrial economy generates substantial commuter traffic, while Kolkata and Salt Lake remain important employment and commercial destinations. A worker travelling to Haldia in the morning may find several ways to reach the industrial belt, but returning after a full working day can be more difficult, particularly when direct services become less frequent.

That is precisely where an evening government bus can make a difference.

The September service was introduced against this backdrop, with officials highlighting the difficulties faced by people travelling between Haldia’s industrial area and Salt Lake for employment. The stated objective is to provide a more dependable direct connection for commuters who need to travel back after work.

The service also strengthens the broader public transport network linking East Midnapore with Kolkata. The August service had already been positioned as an important addition because several areas along the state highway had previously lacked a direct government bus connection, forcing commuters to depend heavily on private operators.

More buses could follow if demand rises

For the August service, authorities indicated that only one government bus would initially operate and that the number could be increased if passenger demand grows.

That approach could become important for the new evening connection as well. A single daily service can provide an additional option, but its usefulness ultimately depends on frequency, punctuality and whether departure times match the working schedules of the large number of commuters travelling between Haldia and Kolkata.

If passenger response remains strong, increased frequency could potentially make the route considerably more useful, particularly during peak commuting periods.

For now, however, the key takeaway for passengers is that Haldia–Kolkata government connectivity has been expanded with another daily service, including an evening option from Kolkata, giving commuters an additional public transport choice on one of the important inter-city corridors of south Bengal.

With Haldia continuing to function as a major industrial and employment hub, improved bus connectivity could ease the pressure on private transport while offering commuters a relatively economical alternative. The introduction of the new service also signals a wider effort to strengthen direct state-run bus links between East Midnapore and the Kolkata metropolitan area.

commuters now have reason to keep an eye on the SBSTC timetable: the Haldia–Kolkata corridor is gaining another daily connection, and for those finishing work in the evening, that additional bus could prove to be the most useful change of all.