Kolkata railway station

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Indian Railways Suburban Railway Logo.svg
Kolkata
Indian Railways Suburban Railway Logo.svg Indian Railways and Kolkata Suburban Railway station
Kolkata Railway Station (KOAA) 01.jpg
Kolkata railway station
General information
Location Belgachia, Kolkata, West Bengal 700037
Flag of India.svg  India
Coordinates 22°36′05″N88°23′03″E / 22.6012775°N 88.3841474°E / 22.6012775; 88.3841474
Elevation9 metres (30 ft)
Owned by Indian Railways
Operated by Eastern Railway
Line(s) Kolkata Circular line
Platforms6
Tracks8
Connections
  • Kolkata Metro Logo.svg Belgachia
  • Kolkata bus.png Kolkata station
  • Kolkata bus.png RG Kar Hospital
  • Taxi Stand
Construction
Structure typeStandard (on-ground station)
ParkingAvailable BSicon PARKING.svg
Bicycle facilitiesAvailable BSicon BICYCLE.svg
AccessibleYes Wheelchair symbol.svg
Other information
StatusActive
Station codeKOAA
Zone(s) Eastern Railway zone
Division(s) Sealdah
History
Opened2006;18 years ago (2006)
Rebuilt2014
ElectrifiedYes
Previous names Chitpur Central
Passengers
600,000 daily
Services
Preceding station Kolkata Suburban Railway Following station
Patipukur
towards Dum Dum Junction
Circular Line Tala
towards Dum Dum Junction
Location
Kolkata railway station

Kolkata railway station (KOAA), formerly known as Chitpur railway station, is the newest of the five large railway stations serving Kolkata metropolitan region, West Bengal, India. The others are Sealdah, Howrah, Shalimar and Santragachi Junction. Kolkata station is situated in the Chitpur locality of North Kolkata. [1]

Contents

History

Kolkata railway station known full view Kolkata railway station known as Chitpur terminals in Kolkata 15.jpg
Kolkata railway station known full view

The place where the station is situated was formerly a large goods yard. The present car and bus parking areas, as well as the path to the station, formed part of a coal loading yard. [2] The present-day platforms were once used as goods lines and formed part of the large Chitpur Rail Yard. [3]

Plan & location

In 2000, the first plans were made to use this area as a railway station, since the rapid growth of long-distance passengers was overcrowding the Sealdah station. Due to limitations of space, new platform construction is restricted at Sealdah. Two new platforms (9A & 9B) constructed between 2004 and 2005 proved insufficient. Due to its central position in Kolkata, the Sealdah station is too busy for suburban train traffic. To overcome this problem, Eastern Railways suggested constructing another large railway station in Kolkata, to cater mostly to long-distance trains. The decision to build a terminal at Chitpur came after a lot of deliberation and a process of elimination. Different locations were suggested for the station site. Three years ago[ when? ], Majerhat was suggested as a possible location. The idea was shelved owing to technical difficulties involving the construction of a bridge over the Hooghly river from Bauria to Budge Budge. Then there was Shalimar, in Howrah district, which was already a goods terminal operating under the South Eastern Railway. In fact, a passenger service on a trial basis was also started from there through two pairs of trains. But the project could not take off owing to certain problems relating to infrastructure and the considerable distance of the terminal from Kolkata proper. Chitpur was decided upon finally and approved by the Railway Ministry in 2003–04. Certain inherent advantages helped in the selection of this place. Other than being located in the heart of Kolkata, Chitpur has already functioned as an important rail yard for around a century. Moreover, unlike in the case of Majerhat and Shalimar, the huge property in and around the place belongs to the Railways. The proposal has been accepted by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), and on 15 May 2003, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee laid the foundation stone for the project.

Construction history

Construction started in 2004. The tracks from the coal-yard were closed first, and then a large portion of electrified goods tracks were shut down. Those tracks, masts and wires were demolished. Next, the Dumdum–Majherhat link rail line's (Kolkata Circular Railway) track was temporarily re-aligned. This action permitted the construction of platforms, station buildings and a parking area to begin. After construction was completed, the circular rail tracks were aligned as before, now via the new station. Other tracks were re-aligned, and completely electrified for passenger coaches shunting (up to side of Tala station). Tracks in the opposite direction, which were not electrified and underutilized, were re-laid, re-aligned and fully electrified for goods trains (with wagon to lorry transfer facility). Part of the former electrified goods lines, which were closed, now entered use as a coach siding.

After these, the official inauguration occurred in January 2006.

Station layout

GStreet levelExit/Entrance & ticket counter
P1 FOB, Side platform, No-1 doors will open on the left/right
Track 1
Track 2→
FOB, Island platform, No- 2 doors will open on the left/right
Island platform, No- 3 doors will open on the left/right
Track 3
Track 4→
FOB, Island platform, No- 4 doors will open on the left/right
Island platform, No- 5 doors will open on the left/right
Track 5

Services

The station is linked to the Sealdah–Ranaghat–Krishnanagar–Berhampore–Lalgola line and is served by the Eastern Railway for trains to Naihati, Bandel, Kalyani Simanta, Gede, Shantipur, Krishnanagar, Berhampore, Lalgola, Dankuni, Barddhaman, Katwa, Bongaon, Hasnabad and others. The number of suburban trains is lower than long-distance trains. This station runs many long-distance express trains including two pairs of Garib Rath Express, Khwaja Garib Nawaz Madar–Kolkata Express etc. and one long-distance passenger train – Lalgola Passenger. There are five platforms, among them Platform 1 & 2 is used by only suburban trains and Platform 3,4 & 5 are used by long-distance trains. The station is operated by the Eastern Railway. The international trains of eastern India Maitree Express and Bandhan Express which runs towards Bangladesh, also departed from here. [4]

The Maharajas' Express departed from this station for the first time at 20 March 2010. Nearest Metro Stations are Shyambazar metro station and Belgachia metro station.

Kolkata Railway Station (KOAA) 03.jpg
Panorama of the Kolkata Railway station at day
Panorama of Kolkata Station at Night.jpg
Panorama of the Kolkata station at night

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belgharia railway station</span> Railway station in West Bengal, India

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Agarpara railway station is a Kolkata Suburban Railway station and one of the oldest active railway station in the town of Agarpara. This railway station situates between the Belgharia railway station and Sodpur railway station. It serves the local areas of Agarpara in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India.

References

  1. ↑ "Kolkata Railway Station Map/Atlas ER/Eastern Zone - Railway Enquiry".
  2. ↑ "Eastern Railway". er.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Kolkata Railway Station To Transform Into An Economic Hub Soon". Times Now. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Kolkata station gets a snazzy lounge". The Times of India. 19 December 2020. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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