Kolkata: By June-end, all platforms of Sealdah railway station will be upgraded to accommodate 12-compartments in local trains, divisional railway manager (DRM), Sealdah, Dipak Nigam said on Wednesday. Platforms 1 to 5, which were smaller than the remaining 21 platforms in one of India’s busiest railway stations, are currently being extended to accommodate EMU trains with 12 coaches instead of nine.
“We have completed phase I of the extension work.Starting this Friday, phase II will be done over the weekend. We shall try to do it with minimum disruption of services. By June-end and latest by first week of July, the work will be over and all platforms of Sealdah station will be capable of housing 12-car rakes instead of nine,” added Nigam.
From Friday to Sunday, the first five platforms will be blocked for the extension work and 806 trains will be operational in the rest of the 16 platforms. Intervals between trains — for example to and from Naihati, Ranagat, Hasnabad, Barasat, Bongaon and Krishnagore — will be increased by 12-15 minutes during peak hours. “To make up for the increased gap between trains, we shall run mostly 12-car EMU rakes in the Sealdah North and Main sections along the 16 platforms,” Nigam said.
Sealdah-Ajmer SF Express, Hate-Bazare Express, Sealdah-Balurghat Express and Sealdah-Asansol SF Express will depart and terminate at Kolkata station instead of Sealdah.