Extension of coaching terminals by SER-Sankrail in Kharagpur Division

Admin

Kolkata: “We’re expanding coaching terminals in key cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This move will upgrade the railway network and significantly improve nationwide connectivity” -Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & Information Technology

  • In view of the rapid sustained growth in demand for travel, the capacity of major cities to originate new trains needs to be doubled from the current level in the next 5 years.
  • The current infrastructure serving needs to be augmented so as to meet the requirements of upcoming years.
  • The works for doubling the originating capacity by the year 2030 in these cities would include the following actions.
  • Augmenting the current terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and adequate shunting facilities.
  • Identifying and creating new terminals in and around the urban area.
  • Maintenance facilities, including mega coaching complexes.
  • Increasing the sectional capacity with traffic facility works, signaling upgradation, and multitracking required for handling increased trains at various points.
  • While planning for increasing capacity of terminals, stations around terminals will also be considered so that capacity is evenly balanced. For example, for Pune, Hadapsar, Khadki, and Alandi have been considered for increasing capacity, along with increasing platforms and stabling lines at Pune station.

The above exercise will be done for both suburban as well as non-suburban traffic, keeping in view the distinct requirements of both segments. A comprehensive plan for 48 major cities is under consideration. The plan will include works planned, proposed, or already sanctioned to achieve the goal of doubling train-handling capacity in a time-bound manner.

While the plan to double the capacity by 2030, it is expected that capacity will be increased progressively over the next five years, ensuring that the benefits of capacity addition are realized immediately.

This will help in meeting the traffic requirement progressively over the years. The plan will classify actions under three categories, i.e., immediate, short-term, and long-term.

The proposed plans will be specific, with clear timelines and defined outcomes. While this exercise focuses on specific stations, each Zonal Railway has been asked to plan to increase train handling capacity across their divisions, ensuring that not only terminal capacity is enhanced but also sectional capacity and operational constraints at stations and yards are effectively addressed.

For above, the following cities are identified in South Eastern Railway: Kolkata, Tatanagar, Ranchi

Sankrail (In Kolkata area) in Kharagpur Division:

The Howrah, Santragachi and Shalimar are major coaching terminals of Kharagpur Division from where an average 30 Nos. of important Mail/Express trains of South Eastern Railway originate and terminate. These terminals serve the major routes like Howrah-Mumbai/Ahmadabad and Howrah-Chennai/Bangalore. In addition to it, 76 pairs of suburban locals also originates/terminates at Howrah.

The capacity of these coaching terminals have become saturated. The scope of expansion of these coaching terminals is also not possible due to heavy built up area around these terminals. Hence, it is very difficult to introduce new passenger trains from these coaching terminals. In view of the above, it has been planned to develop a new coaching terminal cum coaching depot beside the Abada and Sankrail station which is about 15 Km. away from Howrah and 7 Km. away from Santragachi where sufficient land is available for development of the terminal.

After development of the terminal, new trains can be introduced for Kolkata area. The proposed passenger terminal location is also well connected by Rail and Road for convenience of passengers. The NH-16 is just 2.5 Km. away from the proposed terminal. It is well connected by NH-16. Its nearby Railway stations are Abada, Sankrail and Andul lies on Howrah-Kharagpur section where number of Suburban locals has stoppage which can be used by public of Kolkata area to catch their trains.