It is a right step, and should have been taken much earlier.
Just like other metro cities, WB Govt too take charge of/ financially participate in the Metro and suburban train operation. State Govt is major beneficiary of the economic activities discharged by the Kolkata Metro suburban commuters and the tax/duties paid by them/ their business/ their employers. Hence state govt must come forward to share its responsibility instead of asking funds from centre to subsidise it.
Why should poor passengers/citizens of other poorer states bear the brunt of this subsidy...
more... given to relatively richer Kolkata populace?
Kolkata Metro is the only metro train running on heavy subsidy born by IR, rest are all joint ventures of State Govt/IR/PPP ventures.
Declaration of Kolkata as 17th zone of IR is height of political expediency which bleed IR to the tune of INR 1000 crores every year & injustice to rest of the states of India.