Staff Reporter –
Uber, India’s leading ridesharing platform, is launching a new Uber Shuttle route from Sealdah to New Town starting February 20, 2025 till March 13, 2025. The service will provide relief to commuters affected by the temporary suspension of metro services on the Sealdah–Salt Lake, Sector V line, while also extending connectivity from Sector V to New Town to ensure seamless last-mile travel.
Kolkata became the first Indian city to introduce Uber Shuttle, following an MoU signed between Uber and the Transport Department, Government of West Bengal in November 2023. The overwhelming response to the service led the government to request an additional route to mitigate the disruption caused by the temporary metro suspension.
Commenting on the announcement, Snehasis Chakraborty, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge – Transport, Government of West Bengal, said, “Expanding transport choices and ensuring a hassle-free daily commute is a priority for the Government of West Bengal. The new Uber Shuttle route offers commuters a safe, convenient alternative to minimize disruption during metro maintenance. We appreciate Uber’s responsiveness and commitment to improving mobility in Kolkata.”
The new route will operate daily, running buses from 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM, with a frequency of 15 minutes. Commuters can pre-book seats via the Uber app, ensuring a guaranteed seat with no standing passengers. The air-conditioned buses will feature live tracking, Uber’s 24×7 Safety Line, and other in-app safety features, providing a comfortable and reliable ride.
Speaking on running the service in Kolkata, Amit Deshpande, Head of Uber Shuttle in India, stated, “Since launching Uber Shuttle in Kolkata, the response from commuters has been overwhelmingly positive. We are grateful to the Transport Department for trusting us with this expansion. With the new route, we aim to bridge the gap during the metro shutdown and provide a seamless alternative for daily commuters.”
The existing Uber Shuttle network covers all residential districts of Kolkata and some nearby areas such as Barrackpur, Barasat and Sonarpur. Commuters will have seamless connectivity to the new route from
Sealdah to New Town.
How to book an Uber Shuttle trip:
● Open the Uber app and select ‘Shuttle’ from the available options
● Enter your pickup and dropoff locations
● Choose your route and departure time
● Select Request and confirm your Shuttle trip
● Receive a push notification with your driver and vehicle information
● Go to the pickup location at least 5 minutes before your scheduled departure
● Show the driver your QR code to board the shuttle
Each Uber Shuttle bus on this route will have a seating capacity of 24 to 43 passengers, operated by local fleet partners using Uber’s technology.
