Carpool in Kolkata: Sector V and New Town for ₹1,496 a Month
Kolkata's offices have moved east. Salt Lake Sector V and New Town hold most of the city's IT and services jobs, while the people who work there live in Howrah, Behala, Garia, Dum Dum and Barasat. Every weekday morning they cross the city at the same hour.
The Metro and buses carry many of them. Many others drive, and most of those cars have one person inside.
The commutes that suit carpooling in Kolkata
- Behala and Garia to Sector V, along the EM Bypass.
- Howrah to Salt Lake and New Town, across the river and through the city.
- Dum Dum and Barasat to New Town, by VIP Road and the airport side.
- Park Street and central Kolkata to New Town, for the reverse commute.
- Kolkata to Durgapur or Kharagpur, for weekly and weekend trips.
What it saves
The driver sets a share of the fuel and any tolls, and riders see it before they book. An example:
- A 36 km round trip in a petrol hatchback uses about 2.4 litres. Owners of popular hatchbacks report around 15–17 km a litre in city driving; this uses 15.
- With petrol in Kolkata at ₹113.51 a litre, that is about ₹272 a day.
- Over 22 working days, ₹5,984 a month.
- Shared between two people, ₹2,992 each. Shared between four, ₹1,496 each.
If you ride a scooter instead, a bike pool works the same way with one pillion seat.
Knowing who you ride with
Before any trip you can see the driver's name, photo, vehicle and ratings from earlier rides, and chat in the app. Women can choose Pink Rides, which only women can offer and only women can book.
How to find a carpool in Kolkata
You can also see the rides open in Kolkata right now.
1. Search ZoinZo from where you start to your office, for example Behala to Sector V.
2. Pick a driver whose route and timing match yours.
3. Request a seat and chat before the ride.
4. Pay the driver your share over UPI or cash. ZoinZo takes no cut.
Tips for a smooth carpool in Kolkata
- Meet on the main road. A pickup at a Metro station or a bus stop on the Bypass saves the driver a turn into narrow lanes.
- Plan for the monsoon. From June to September some roads flood after heavy rain, so agree on a second pickup point.
- Split bridge and road tolls along with fuel, and settle the same day.
- Fix a waiting time. Five minutes is fair; after that the car leaves.
Already driving to Sector V? Offer your seats
If you drive to Salt Lake or New Town every day, your empty seats can pay for part of your fuel. Post the route once and set it to repeat every weekday. You see each person's profile and ratings before you accept them.
New to carpooling? Read how carpooling works in India.
Questions people ask
ZoinZo
answers commuters' questions