{"id":"f-80ae245e0c-23f2d393-bcfe-5b73-b3cf-d5afae4aa6c3","title":"This 172-Year-Old Railway Station Is Set For A Major Upgrade By 2030","description":"As part of the redevelopment of 1,337 stations across India, work at Howrah is progressing rapidly. The station is being upgraded and is expected to double its capacity by 2030","timestamp":1773052555,"category":"national_v_two","headline":"This 172-Year-Old Railway Station Is Set For A Major Upgrade By 2030","modifiedHeadline":"This 172-Year-Old Station Set for Big Upgrade","subCategories":["scid_32ea1c2f"],"subcategoriesName":["Regional News"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"657","fcSummary":"howrah junction, one of india’s oldest and busiest railway stations, is undergoing a major expansion to accommodate rising passenger numbers and train services by 2030. the plan includes rebuilding and extending existing platforms, constructing two new platforms to separate local and long-distance trains, and improving overall infrastructure. platform 15 has been extended to 591 metres to handle longer trains, and platform 14 to 581 metres. these upgrades aim to reduce congestion, improve punctuality, and enhance the passenger experience at this vital transport hub.","summary":"Howrah station, a 1854 landmark, gets a major upgrade by 2030 to double capacity & ease congestion for millions of passengers.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/news18/f-80ae245e0c-23f2d393-bcfe-5b73-b3cf-d5afae4aa6c3","sourceUrl":"https://www.news18.com/cities/kolkata-news/this-172-year-old-railway-station-is-set-for-a-major-upgrade-by-2030-ws-kl-9950317.html","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/u2W6VjiqbPs0.webp","content":"

Howrah Junction railway station is among the oldest and busiest railway stations in India. The station dates back to 1854, when the East India Company launched the country’s first rail service.

Over the

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decades, the station has evolved into the main gateway to Kolkata. Today, millions of passengers pass through the station every day, making it one of the most important rail transport hubs in eastern India. However, with the steady rise in passenger numbers and train services, the station has come under immense operational pressure.

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Indian Railways Prepare Major Expansion Plan For 2030

To address the growing demand and improve passenger facilities, the Indian Railways has drawn up a large-scale development plan for Howrah station. The objective is to significantly increase the station’s capacity so that more trains can operate from the terminal by 2030 while also providing better infrastructure and smoother passenger movement.

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Officials say the upgrades will help accommodate the expected rise in train services and reduce congestion at one of the country’s most crowded railway stations.

Growth Of Platforms Over The Decades

Howrah station has undergone several expansions since its establishment in 1854. As railway traffic increased over the years, additional platforms were built to handle the growing number of trains.

In 1905, six new platforms were added, taking the total number to seven. Later, in 1984, eight more platforms were constructed, increasing the count to 15.

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Further development continued in 1992, when a new terminal building with four additional platforms was introduced. The station was expanded again in 2009, raising the total number of platforms to 23.

These expansions greatly improved rail connectivity across eastern India. However, with passenger numbers continuing to rise, authorities believe further upgrades are now essential.

Plan To Double Train Services From Major Cities

The railways are currently working on a broader national plan to increase train services from major cities across the country. Over the next five years, the goal is to nearly double the number of trains operating from key railway hubs.

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Howrah station forms a crucial part of this strategy, given its role as a major junction for long-distance as well as suburban rail services.

According to the Chief Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway, new platforms are being constructed and several existing platforms are being extended to increase the station’s operational capacity.

Platform 15 Rebuilt And Extended For Longer Trains

One of the major upgrades at the station involves platform number 15, which has recently been rebuilt and significantly extended.

Earlier, the platform measured 312 metres and was mainly used for local trains with 12 coaches. After the upgrade, its length has been increased to 591 metres. This expansion now allows long-distance mail and express trains with 22 to 24 coaches to halt at the platform comfortably.

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Platform 14 Also Extended

Platform number 14 has also been lengthened as part of the modernisation efforts. Its length has been increased to 581 metres, allowing it to accommodate longer trains.

The extension is expected to reduce waiting times for trains approaching the station and help improve overall operational efficiency.

Two New Platforms Under Construction

In addition to upgrading existing platforms, the railways are also constructing two entirely new platforms at Howrah station.

Platform number 24 will be around 635 metres long, designed specifically to handle full-length trains with up to 24 coaches. Meanwhile, platform number 16 will measure approximately 300 metres and will be used for trains with 12 coaches.

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Separate Operations For Local And Long-Distance Trains

The addition of these new platforms will help streamline train operations at the station. Authorities plan to separate local suburban trains from long-distance services, which will make scheduling easier and reduce delays.

This separation is expected to improve punctuality and ensure smoother movement of trains through the busy station.

More Platform Extensions Planned

Railway officials have also indicated that several older platforms will be extended in the coming years as part of the overall redevelopment plan.

Extending these platforms will create space for longer trains and allow the station to handle more services without overcrowding.

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Better Passenger Experience Expected

The expansion and modernisation of Howrah station are expected to significantly improve the travel experience for passengers. With longer platforms, additional train capacity and better infrastructure, crowding inside the station is likely to decrease.

Passengers will find it easier to board and alight from trains, and long-distance services will no longer need to wait outside the station for available platforms.

Once the project progresses further, travellers using one of India’s most historic railway hubs can expect faster operations, reduced congestion and improved facilities.

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This 172-Year-Old Railway Station Is Set For A Major Upgrade By 2030

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