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✈ Kolkata Airport (CCU) · NSCBI · Dum Dum · Updated 2026

Kolkata Airport Taxi Guide

All options, real fares & what to avoid — Yellow Cab • AC Prepaid • Ola/Uber • WBTC Bus • Pre-booked cab. Durga Puja surge explained.

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4 Transport Options at CCU  |  Yellow Cab & AC Prepaid  |  Night Surcharge ₹150–250 extra  |  TaxiBazaar — No Durga Puja Surge

Kolkata Airport (NSCBI, CCU) is unique among major Indian airports for its two-tier prepaid taxi system — the iconic yellow cab alongside modern AC cabs at the same booth. This guide explains all 4 transport options honestly, including what happens during Durga Puja when the entire system can break down.

Your 4 Transport Options at Kolkata Airport

① Prepaid Taxi Counter — Yellow Cab & AC Cab (Two Tiers)
Walk-in — Single terminal

The prepaid counter inside the arrivals hall offers two categories at the same booth: the iconic yellow cab (no AC, metered-equivalent fixed fare, very affordable) and the AC cab (air-conditioned sedan, higher fixed fare). Both are government rate-regulated — pay at the counter, collect a receipt, and board the assigned vehicle outside. No negotiation.

Yellow Cab (no AC)

To Salt Lake / New Town₹200–280
To Park Street / Esplanade₹280–370
To Howrah Station₹350–450

AC Cab (air-conditioned)

To Salt Lake / New Town₹350–450
To Park Street / Esplanade₹500–650
To Howrah Station₹600–750
Night surcharge (11pm–5am)+₹150–250 extra (both categories)
PaymentCash; UPI at most counters
Outstation coverageCity routes only
    Pros
  • Two price tiers — choose your budget
  • Government rates — safe & regulated
  • No app required, 24/7 available
    Cons
  • Yellow cab has no AC — miserable in summer
  • Long queues during Durga Puja
  • Fare not confirmed before landing
  • No flight delay monitoring
  • City routes only
② Ola / Uber (App-Based Cabs)
App-based

Both Ola and Uber operate at Kolkata airport from a designated cab pickup zone outside the arrivals exit. Book via app on airport WiFi before walking out. At off-peak hours, Ola/Uber can be slightly cheaper than the AC prepaid counter. However, during Durga Puja, surge pricing can reach 3–4x and availability collapses.

Pickup locationCab pickup zone — outside arrivals exit, follow signs
To Park Street / Esplanade (base)₹380–680
To Howrah Station (base)₹480–850
Surge riskHigh — 8–11am, 5–9pm & Durga Puja (3–4x)
PaymentUPI, card, cash — all accepted
    Pros
  • App-tracked — safe & transparent
  • Cheapest at off-peak hours
  • Multiple vehicle categories
    Cons
  • Durga Puja surge 3–4x base fare
  • Fare not confirmed before landing
  • No flight delay monitoring
  • Tolls on outstation added at end
③ WBTC Airport Bus
Walk-in

West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) operates AC airport buses to Esplanade, Howrah Station, Sector V (Salt Lake), and Tollygunge. Very cheap and reasonably comfortable. Best for solo passengers with light luggage who are familiar with the city.

Boarding pointOutside arrivals — follow WBTC bus signs
Fare to Esplanade / Howrah₹60–80
Fare to Salt Lake Sector V₹50–60
FrequencyEvery 20–45 min (approx. 6am–10:30pm)
To Esplanade50–80 min (traffic-dependent)
    Pros
  • Cheapest road option (₹50–80)
  • AC and reasonably comfortable
  • Covers major stops in new & old city
    Cons
  • Not door-to-door
  • No service after ~10:30pm
  • Slow in peak VIP Road traffic
  • Impractical with heavy luggage
④ Pre-Booked Fixed-Fare Cab — TaxiBazaar
✓ Recommended

Book before you board your flight. Fare confirmed in writing — no surge, no Durga Puja premium, no surprises. Driver tracks your flight live and meets you at arrivals gate with a name board. Particularly valuable during Durga Puja when on-the-spot taxis become scarce and expensive.

To Salt Lake / New Town / RajarhatFrom ₹480 (sedan, all-inclusive)
To Park Street / EsplanadeFrom ₹600 (sedan, all-inclusive)
To Ballygunge / GariahatFrom ₹650 (sedan, all-inclusive)
To Howrah StationFrom ₹750 (sedan, all-inclusive)
To Tollygunge / BehalaFrom ₹750 (sedan, all-inclusive)
To DighaFrom ₹3,500 (all tolls included)
To Siliguri / Darjeeling foothillsFrom ₹10,500 (all tolls included)
Tolls included?Yes — all tolls & charges included
Durga Puja surgeNone — fare locked when you book
Night surchargeNone — fare locked at booking
Flight delay policyDriver monitors flight — waits at no extra cost
    Pros
  • Fare fixed before you land
  • Driver at arrivals gate with name board
  • No Durga Puja / peak season surge
  • No night surcharge
  • Flight delay monitoring included
  • Outstation routes across East India
  • 24/7 customer support
    Cons
  • Must book a few hours in advance
  • Requires phone/internet to book
🚨
Never accept a ride from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. Unauthorised drivers and touts operate at Kolkata airport, particularly at night and during festive seasons. They quote a reasonable-sounding price to get you outside, then demand significantly more. Always use the official prepaid counter, the Ola/Uber pickup zone, or a pre-booked service.
🪔
Durga Puja (October) — pre-book without exception. Kolkata during Durga Puja is unlike any other city during any other festival in India. Taxi availability at the airport collapses, Ola/Uber surge can reach 3–4x, and prepaid queues stretch 45–60 minutes. If you are arriving during Durga Puja, pre-booking a fixed-fare cab is the only way to guarantee a ride at a known price.

Kolkata Airport Taxi Fares — Route by Route (2026)

Prepaid fares are government-regulated. Ola/Uber fares vary with surge — 3–4x during Durga Puja. TaxiBazaar fares are fixed at booking, all tolls included, no seasonal premium.

Route from CCU Airport Distance Time Yellow Cab AC Prepaid Ola/Uber (base) TaxiBazaar
Airport → New Town / Rajarhat14 km20–35 min₹180–250₹320–420₹230–400from ₹480
Airport → Salt Lake / Bidhannagar17 km25–40 min₹200–280₹350–450₹260–450from ₹500
Airport → Sealdah19 km30–50 min₹240–320₹420–530₹320–550from ₹580
Airport → Park Street / Esplanade20 km35–60 min₹280–370₹500–650₹380–680from ₹600
Airport → Ballygunge / Gariahat22 km35–55 min₹300–400₹520–680₹400–700from ₹650
Airport → Howrah Station25 km45–70 min₹350–450₹600–750₹480–850from ₹750
Airport → Tollygunge / Behala26 km45–70 min₹360–460₹620–780₹490–880from ₹750
Airport → Digha185 km3.5–4.5 hrsN/AN/A₹3,200–4,500from ₹3,500
Airport → Shantiniketan / Bolpur200 km3.5–4.5 hrsN/AN/A₹3,500–5,000from ₹3,800
Airport → Siliguri / Darjeeling foothills600 km9–11 hrsN/AN/AN/Afrom ₹10,500

* Yellow cab and AC prepaid fares are government-regulated and do not surge. Ola/Uber fares shown are base estimates — during Durga Puja, surge of 3–4x is possible. TaxiBazaar fares are fixed at booking, all tolls included, no seasonal premium.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Yellow Cab vs AC Prepaid vs Ola/Uber vs TaxiBazaar — choose based on your situation.

Yellow Cab AC Prepaid Ola / Uber TaxiBazaar
Book before landing✗ No✗ No~ Scheduled only✓ Yes
Fare confirmed upfront~ At booth only~ At booth only~ Surge applies✓ Before landing
No Durga Puja surge✓ Fixed rate✓ Fixed rate✗ Surge 3–4x✓ Locked at booking
No night surcharge✗ +₹150–250 extra✗ +₹150–250 extra✗ High surge midnight✓ No surcharge
Air-conditioned vehicle✗ No AC✓ Yes✓ Yes✓ Yes
Flight delay monitoring✗ No✗ No✗ No✓ Automatic
Driver at arrivals gate✗ Queue at counter✗ Queue at counter✗ Walk to pickup zone✓ Name board at gate
Available at midnight✓ Yes (+ surcharge)✓ Yes (+ surcharge)~ Reduced, high surge✓ 24/7, no surge
Outstation travel✗ City only✗ City only~ Dynamic fare✓ Pan-India routes

Pre-Book Your Kolkata Airport Cab

Fare fixed before you land. No Durga Puja surge. Driver at arrivals gate with your name.

1. Enter Details

Select Kolkata Airport (CCU/NSCBI) as pickup and your destination.

2. Choose Vehicle

Select Sedan, SUV or Innova. Fare is fixed immediately — no surge, no Durga Puja premium.

3. Confirm & Fly

Driver monitors your flight. Waits at arrivals gate with your name board.

from ₹600
Sedan · to Park Street
from ₹750
Sedan · to Howrah Station
from ₹3,500
Sedan · to Digha
from ₹10,500
Sedan · to Siliguri
Book Kolkata Airport Cab →

Free cancellation up to 2 hours before pickup · All tolls included · No Durga Puja surge · 24/7 support

How to Stay Safe at Kolkata Airport

🚨
Never accept a ride from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. Tout activity is persistent at NSCBI airport. Unauthorised drivers approach in the arrivals hall quoting reasonable-sounding fares — then demand more mid-journey or take a longer route. Always walk past them to the official prepaid counter, the Ola/Uber pickup zone, or use a pre-booked cab.
Choosing Yellow Cab vs AC Cab

If you arrive between October and February (Kolkata's pleasant winter), the yellow cab is perfectly comfortable and significantly cheaper. From March to September — when temperatures and humidity are extreme — the AC cab is worth every extra rupee. For families, international travellers, or anyone with multiple bags, the AC sedan is the practical choice year-round.

Durga Puja — Pre-Book Without Exception

Kolkata during Durga Puja (typically late September to mid-October) is a transportation emergency for unprepared travellers. The city's roads are clogged, prepaid queues stretch to an hour, and Ola/Uber surge reaches 3–4x. If your flight arrives during Durga Puja, pre-book your cab before you leave for the airport — it is the only guarantee of a known fare and a waiting driver.

Late Night Arrivals (after 11pm)

WBTC buses stop around 10:30pm. Ola/Uber availability drops after midnight and surge is extreme. The prepaid counter remains open with a fixed night surcharge. A pre-booked TaxiBazaar cab is the most reliable option for any flight arriving after 11pm — especially for outstation destinations like Digha or Siliguri.

Pro tip from TaxiBazaar drivers: For New Town and Rajarhat, the direct route via Action Area roads bypasses VIP Road congestion — saving 10–15 minutes during peak hours. For Howrah Station, AJC Bose Road flyover is usually faster than going through the city centre. Your TaxiBazaar driver will choose the best path — your fare stays fixed.

What Passengers Say

★★★★★

Arrived during Durga Puja — the airport was chaos. Ola showing 3.8x surge, prepaid queue was 50+ people. My pre-booked TaxiBazaar driver was right at the gate with my name board. Best decision I ever made.

SB
Sayan Banerjee
CCU Airport → Ballygunge
★★★★★

Booked Kolkata airport to Digha for a weekend trip. ₹3,500 fixed fare, all tolls included. Driver was professional, NH 16 was smooth. Reached Digha in under 4 hours. Will always pre-book for outstation.

RM
Ritika Mukherjee
CCU Airport → Digha
★★★★★

International flight delayed by 2 hours — pilot announcement said weather issue. TaxiBazaar driver tracked it and was still there. Came out at 1am to a smiling driver and clean car. No extra charge. Exceptional service.

AD
Amit Das
CCU Airport → Howrah Station

FAQs — Kolkata Airport Taxi

Four options: (1) Prepaid taxi counter — two tiers: yellow cab (no AC, cheaper) and AC cab (air-conditioned, higher fare), both at the same booth inside arrivals; (2) Ola/Uber — at the pickup zone outside arrivals, subject to surge; (3) WBTC airport bus — cheapest road option to select stops; (4) Pre-booked fixed-fare cab (TaxiBazaar) — fare confirmed before landing, driver at gate with name board, no Durga Puja surge.

The yellow cab is Kolkata's iconic Ambassador-era taxi — no air conditioning, metered-equivalent fare, significantly cheaper. The AC cab is a modern air-conditioned sedan at a higher fixed fare. Both are at the same prepaid counter with separate rate cards. Between March and September (hot and humid), the AC cab is worth the premium. In winter (November–February), the yellow cab is comfortable for most travellers.

A yellow cab prepaid to Park Street costs approximately ₹280–370. An AC prepaid cab costs ₹500–650. Ola/Uber at base is ₹380–680, but can surge during peak. A pre-booked TaxiBazaar cab starts at ₹600 all-inclusive. Distance is about 20 km, travel time 35–60 minutes.

Durga Puja is Kolkata's largest festival, running for 5–7 days in late September or October. During this period, the city's entire road network is congested with pandal-hoppers and immersion convoys. Ola/Uber surge reaches 3–4x on Panchami through Dashami evenings. Prepaid queues at the airport stretch to 45–60 minutes. Pre-booking is the only reliable option during Durga Puja.

Yellow cab prepaid to Howrah costs approximately ₹350–450. AC prepaid is ₹600–750. Ola/Uber at base is ₹480–850, but surges during peak. A pre-booked TaxiBazaar cab starts at ₹750 all-inclusive. Distance is 25 km, travel time 45–70 minutes.

A pre-booked TaxiBazaar cab from Kolkata airport to Digha starts at ₹3,500 all-inclusive (all NH 16 tolls included). Ola/Uber outstation to Digha starts around ₹3,200–4,500 depending on surge, with tolls added separately. Distance is approximately 185 km, travel time 3.5–4.5 hours.

The Kolkata Metro East-West Corridor (Line 2, Orange Line) has a station at NSCBI Airport. As of 2026, the line runs from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V with the airport extension under final commissioning. Check current KMRC updates for the latest operational status before planning your journey.

Yes — TaxiBazaar covers the Kolkata to Siliguri route (approximately 600 km, 9–11 hours) from ₹10,500 all-inclusive. From Siliguri, onward connections to Darjeeling, Gangtok, and the North-East hill stations are available as separate bookings.