Metro was the only mode of transport for tens of thousands of commuters on Tuesday, particularly those who had to cross the Hooghly, as the protesters disrupted traffic in large parts of Calcutta and Howrah.

East-West Metro, or the Green Line, recorded a footfall of around 47,000 till 2pm on Tuesday, said a Metro official. On Tuesday last week, till 5pm, around 28,000 passengers had travelled by East-West Metro.

“On the east-west corridor, the maximum rush was seen at Howrah Maidan and Howrah stations,” Metro spokesperson Kausik Mitra said. “We had to open six additional counters at Howrah station, in addition to the existing six.”

The north-south Metro, or the Blue Line, also ran smoothly and was not impacted by the disruptions above ground. Till 5pm, around 3 lakh passengers travelled on the north-south line. On an average, it carries 6 lakh passengers every day, said an official.

Many commuters who would otherwise travel in their cars to reach workplaces chose the underground railway network on Tuesday.

“We waited outside Howrah station for some time and didn’t spot a bus. Finally, we decided to take East-West Metro to reach Esplanade,” said Abdul Rahaman, a resident of Kaliachak in Malda.

Rahaman has come to Calcutta with his family for a check-up at a private hospital. They are staying at a hotel in Esplanade.

Many others who arrived at Howrah station from various districts as well as other states said the ride beneath the Hooghly offered the best option on a day when Calcutta and Howrah were rocked by unrest and violence.

“We boarded the Padatik Express to reach Howrah. There weren’t enough cabs or buses outside Howrah station. We decided to take East-West Metro to reach Esplanade,” said Sudip Debnath, a resident of Alipurduar.

Within hours of the BJP calling a 12-hour bandh on Wednesday, state transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty issued an appeal urging the railways to ensure normal services on Wednesday.

“I would request the railways to run the services as usual. We will ensure that other means of transportation, including buses, cabs and ferries, are available in adequate strength,” Chakraborty said.