Howrah: Passengers arriving at Howrah station late at night can now ride a state bus home.

The government on Thursday launched a night bus service from the station on 13 routes covering several parts of Calcutta, including Garia, Kamalgazi, Joka, Ballygunge, Barasat, Barrackpore, airport and Karunamoyee.

The service will be available between 10pm and 5am. The buses will start from the state bus terminus next to the station.

Twenty-five buses will be operated initially and each will complete at least two round trips every night. The fare structure will be the same as that of other state buses.

"The routes have been drawn in such a way that almost every part of Calcutta and its adjoining areas are covered. These buses will come fitted with panic buttons and GPS to help passengers raise the alarm in an emergency," said a senior official of the transport department.

Insiders in the transport department said there have been several complaints from passengers who find it tough to commute from Howrah station at night.

Private buses from Howrah station are few and state-run buses even fewer after 10pm. The only option is pre-paid cabs but officers said that involved a long waiting time. The only other option would be to book an app-cab or rent a car even if that meant paying through the nose. The night buses would also cover some areas not serviced by app-cabs.

The transport department has held a series of meetings with cops from Calcutta, Howrah and Bidhannagar to ensure adequate security for passengers both at Howrah and the end points of each route.

Sources said a detailed police deployment plan had been worked out so that passengers faced no problem.

Department officials said the government would closely monitor each of the routes after analysing the earnings per trip before deciding how to scale up the number of buses.

"This could be a great move if it really happens," said Anumita Chatterjee of Parnasree, who often travels to Vellore with her ailing father-in-law.