Transportation

Kolkata, as Calcutta is called now, has the maximum number of travel options for intra-city or inter-city transportation. Airplane and helicopter services, in addition to long-distance trains and ships bring people into the city. The circular rail and transport corporation buses cater to nearer destinations. Catamaran and ferry services exist for riverine traffic. The Underground Metro, city buses, mini-buses, taxis and trams allow commuters to travel from one end of the city to the other. Hand-pulled rickshaws vie with auto rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws for short-distance travel. Horse carts can be availed for pleasure rides around the Maidan - the green hub of the city. It's generally quicker and more comfortable to travel by train. There are also boats from Kolkata to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

These are various modes of transportation in Kolkata:

Airlines
Netaji Subhash Airport at Dum Dum, is the international airport of Calcutta. It is around 17 km from northeast of BBD Bagh. It's often called Dum Dum, as it sits on the site where explosive dum-dum bullets were once made. The Dumdum metro station is about 5 kms from the airport. Kolkata is a good centre for competitive airfares to other parts of Asia, Europe and the USA's east coast. Air India is the national carrier, but state-owned Indian Airlines also has international flights from Kolkata to Bangkok, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Yangon. Private airlines Jet, Air Sahara and Kingfisher offer generally more reliable services around India. A public minibus runs from BBD Bagh to Dum Dum, but you must take a rickshaw for the last 1km (0.6mi); a taxi is usually easier. The efficient Metro also stops short of the airport in Dum Dum, but a shuttle bus runs from the station to the airport terminal. If you're after a taxi from the airport, it's cheaper and more reliable to go to the prepaid taxi booth (after you clear customs), where you'll be assigned one.

Train
Kolkata has two major train stations, both of them frenetic (beware - they're a pickpocket's paradise). Howrah transportation

station, on the west side of the Hooghly, handles most trains to the south and west, while Sealdah station on the east side of the river is for trains heading north of Kolkata to Siliguri, Darjeeling and the northeast. Every day thousands of people commute by train . It is very popular mode of communication between cities in India. Like other big cities local trains are popular mode of commuting for suburban people.

Metro( Underground Railway )
India's first underground railway connects between southern and northern part of the city ( between Tollygunge and Dumdum ). The track passes through the heart of the city. The Kolkata Metro, India's first underground railway, is calm, clean and efficient. Some stations are decorated with art works. The metro stations are:

Dum Dum, Belgachhia, Shyambazar, Shovabazar, Girish Park, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Central, Chadni Chowk, Esplanade, Park Street, Maidan, Rabindra Sadan, Netaji Bhawan, Jatindas Park, Kalighat, Rabindra Sarobar,Tollygunge.

Bus

The most widely used mode of transportation between suburbs and the main city. Buses come in different types, like, CSTC Govt. buses, privately owned bus routes (majority of the buses), mini buses, specials, limited stops , express etc. Most of the long distance buses start from Esplanade area. Fares start from Rs.4 (as of 2007 April, the fare changes often) and varies depending upon the journey. Some buses have two doors, some one. All buses have some seats reserved for ladies and elderly people. Most of the cases, ticket collector (conductor) collects the ticket after boarding.

Because of the urban sprawl, few people bother to travel from Kolkata by bus, though there are direct international bus services from Kolkata to Dhaka and Phuentsholing in Bhutan, and buses to most large towns in West Bengal, leaving from the Esplanade bus station. Kolkata buses are packed monsters that travel at frightening speeds, jostling for space on the roads with trams and taxis. Routes are varied and confusing; fares are dirt cheap.

Tram transportation

Though decommissioned in some part of the city, electric trams are still one of the means of traveling between places within the city. They move slow on the laid tracks in traffic jammed streets, but they are environment friendly ( no emission ). Perhaps the most characterful way to travel around the city is by tram; from the Maidan terminus, narrow tin trams run north to Belgachia and south to Tollygunge, but they can be like sardine tins in rush hour. Although pollution-free, the trams face an uncertain future as politicians blame them for Kolkata's notorious traffic congestion.

Taxi
There are plenty of them through out the city. Prepaid taxis are available from Airport and Howrah Train Station. There are two types of taxis in Kolkata: yellow taxis have permits to travel all over Kolkata and West Bengal, while black-and-yellow taxis are restricted to Kolkata. Taxi fares are confusing as they have different kinds of meters. Some have old meters where the fare is usually 100%+ on the top of the metered price. Taxis equipped with new electronic meters have less confusion. Whatever it is, the passenger can ask for a rate conversion chart which has the conversion between metered amount and the payable amount. Metered fares are very reasonable, but you have to strenuously insist that the driver uses the meter.

Auto Rickshaw
Three wheeled vehicle runs between short distances and are available through out the city mostly in suburban area. Most of them have designated routes and need a minimum number of 5 passengers to start. But they are flexible. Being smaller in size than other vehicles, sometimes they are able to move faster in the crowded city streets.

Bicycle Rickshaw
Three wheeled with cycle pedals. Mostly run between short distances in narrow lanes and streets. Has seat for 2 passengers, but usually allow kids. Mostly found in the city extension areas. Kolkata is also the last real bastion of the human-powered rickshaw (cycle-rickshaws never really caught on in the rutted, tram-lined streets).

Manual Handpull Rickshaw
Two passenger cart pulled by one man. Mostly for very short distance. Although slow, they come into their own in the monsoon when the streets flood, and fares - predictably - go through the roof. Fares are invariably elevated for foreigners, but you will be supporting someone's livelihood.

Ferry Boats
Very popular among daily commuters who crosses the river to reach the main city. It is a nice way to avoid infamous traffic jam on Howrah Bridge. The fare is Rs. 4.00 to Rs 5.00 and it takes around 15-20 minutes. Ferries are a quick and pleasant way to get along and across the Hooghly, as well as offering the best views of the Howrah Bridge.