The high court has asked Metro Railway to "consider" a petition that sought a direction to the carrier to extend the timings of the last trains on the north-south corridor (Blue Line), its most popular section.

The last trains on this corridor (between Dakshineswar and New Garia) leave New Garia and Dum Dum at 9.40pm. From Dakshineswar, the last train leaves at 9.28pm.

The petitioner submitted that the Metro services in other cities are on till "around 11pm".

The petitioner had sought an extension by around "45 minutes", which means the last trains will leave New Garia and Dum Dum around 10.30pm.

"We are not here to tell you how to run trains. We will just direct you to consider their request. We are conscious of the fact that the decision to fix the timing of the train fully rests with the rail authorities and this court does not have the expertise to go into the technical aspects," the bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya said in open court.

"In any event, since a large number of people working in Calcutta have to travel to their residences which are not in the city, the authorities of the Metro Rail can consider the representation made by the petitioner. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of by directing the... respondent to consider the petitioner's representation... and examine the feasibility of the request made therein.

"The representation shall be considered and an appropriate reply sent to the petitioner within a period of four weeks from the date on which the copy of representation is submitted in the office of the third and fourth respondents along with a copy of this order."

The order was not uploaded on the court's website till Thursday night.

The Delhi Metro website says: "Metro services are generally available from 06:00AM to 11:00PM".

In Chennai and Bangalore, Metro services are available from 5am to 11pm, according to their websites.

Metro spokesperson Kausik Mitra said: "We are yet to get a copy of the court order. We will look into the order and do the needful."

A Metro official said the main challenge to extend the timings of the last trains was the third rail, which supplies power to the trains. It carries 750 volts of electricity.

"The Metros in other cities draw power from overhead electrical equipment."

After the commercial services are over, the power to the third rail is stopped and the tracks and other equipment are inspected. Extension of the timings may eat into the time set aside for inspection, the official said.