The Hindu Business Line : Howrah terminal gets new platform, 2 more on the anvil

The newly constructed platform No 17 at the Howrah New Complex was thrown open here on Tuesday for passenger traffic by the General Manager of Eastern Railway, Mr S.S. Khurana. It will basically deal with South Eastern Railway trains, but in an emergency, Eastern Railway trains too can be brought here.

He put the construction cost of the 540-metre long platform, work on which was started on October 5, 2005, at Rs 3.5 crore. The platform, according to the General Manager, will now be able to accommodate long distance trains with 22 coaches.

The Howrah New Complex, with this new addition, now has five platforms, going up to Platform 21. Construction of two more platforms - Nos 22 and 23 — at an estimated cost of Rs 4.15 crore and Rs 5 crore respectively is now in progress. It is learnt that work on platform, No 22 would be completed soon.

The Howrah terminal, both old and new combined, now has 21 platforms, with Nos 1 to 15 in the old complex being used mainly for ER trains, including both EMU and Mail/Express, and a few mail/express trains of SER.

Platform No 16 is used for parcel traffic and the other four platforms (Nos 18 to 21) in the new complex are used for the long distance trains of SER.

According to the Mr Khurana, the new platform, equipped with a washable apron made of ballast concrete track, will help improve cleanliness and safety, besides imparting an aesthetic look. Besides having a shed, the platform also has other amenities like benches, drinking water facilities etc.

Kumbh Mela trains

In a bid to clear the huge rush of passengers during Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007, ER plans to run seven pairs of Kumbh Mela Specials between Howrah and Allahabad on nominated days between January 10 and 24, 2007.

The Specials will consist of a total of 17 coaches including one AC 3-tier, 10 Sleeper Class, four General Class and two second class-cum-luggage vans.

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