The Hindu Business Line : 4 trains to run from Kolkata's new terminal

KOLKATA city, after Howrah and Sealdah stations, has got its third major railway terminal after a gap of 80 years, under the Eastern Railway in Chitpore in North Kolkata.

And four long distance trains have been shifted from Howrah/Sealdah stations by ER to the newly constructed mega `Kolkata' Station from tomorrow.

The old Chitpore railway goods yard along with the one at Cossipore, which were the city's major commodities (salt, cement etc) receiving hub (via rail) in the olden days (a portion of it is still maintained as a goods terminal) has now been transformed into a modern railway terminal, and re-christened as "Kolkata" station.

Briefing newspersons here on Sunday at the station site, Mr Shyam Kumar, General Manager, ER, said the new terminal, some 6 km away from the central part of the city, would be a boon for people living in Salt Lake, New Town, VIP Road, Jessore Road, and Central and North Kolkata.

Executed as an Rs 100-crore ER project, work on it began two years ago. More trains will be considered only after the rail budget announcements, said Mr Kumar.

He said the Kolkata terminal has a massive 72,000 sq m circulating area, with five platforms each capable of accommodating 24-coach trains.

The plan is to run more long distance trains, and also connect it to the South Eastern Railway tracks, for trains from the South to come into Kolkata.

A spacious car park has been provided (for over 200 vehicles), besides taxi, bus and two-wheeler stands, and the plan, according to the General Manager, was to construct a platform-linked subway to enable arriving passengers to reach the bus-taxi stands with ease.

Stressing on the environment factor, a large garden in front of the main station building has been planned, besides having a water treatment plant with a capacity of 2.5 million gallons per day, and an effluent treatment plant.

According to Mr Kumar, connectivity with Circular Railway and Howrah Station, besides convenient transport connections with BBD Bag, Dharmatola, Burrabazar etc (all busy commercial areas in and around Central Kolkata) should make `Kolkata' a popular erail terminal among passengers.

The four trains, shifted from Howrah and Sealdah to Kolkata terminal from tomorrow are Sealdah-Delhi Lalquila Express, Howrah-Gorakhpur Purbanchal Express, Sealdah-Malda Town Gour Express and Sealdah-Lalgola Passenger.

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