Howrah Station Overview

Howrah Station is among the busiest and oldest railway stations in the country, situated within Howrah, in West Bengal, on the west bank of the Hooghly River, opposite to Kolkata. An overview is given below:

1. History and Significance
   Opened: 1854
   Architect: Halsey Ricardo
   Howrah Station is the largest and oldest railway complex in India, marking the beginning of the railways in Eastern India.
   It has played a very crucial role in connecting Kolkata with the rest of the country and is one of the biggest trading and transportation hubs in the country. 2. Infrastructure Platforms: 23 platforms, which are further divided into two parts – from 1 to 16 for long-distance trains and from 17 to 23 for suburban trains Terminal: It has two terminals; it hosts two different terminals for the two railway zones. Area: The station is huge; area-wise, there are enormous waiting halls, passenger facilities, and restaurants.
   Footfall: Over 1 million passengers travel through it daily.
2. Railway Connectivity
   The operations are controlled by Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway.
   It connects major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, and other parts of the country.
   It is a local train hub and also connects the Howrah-Kolkata suburban rail network to other parts of West Bengal.
3. Modern Facilities
   Wi-Fi enabled.
   Large digital display boards.
   Food plazas, bookstores, and passenger waiting lounges.
   Foot overbridges and escalators for easy movement.
   Clean and well-maintained washrooms and cloakrooms.
4. Future Development
   Plans for redevelopment are in the pipeline to redevelop it into a world-class station with ultra-modern facilities, smooth flow of traffic, and improved passenger services.
   Metro Connectivity: Connected with Kolkata Metro Line 2 for easy urban travel.
5. Cultural Significance
   Represents the colonial legacy of Kolkata and its growth as an industrial city.
   Has been included in various Bollywood films because of its historical and architectural brilliance.
   Howrah Station still continues serving as a lifeline for millions of passengers commuting in and out of Eastern India.