Railways withdraw stoppage of mail, express trains at Bidhannagar Road station
The Statesman | 16 October 2025After the full stretch of the Green Line became commercially operational, the daily footfall at three crucial stations of Sealdah Division has seen a rise. Given the fact, the divisional railway authorities have taken a host of steps to decongest Sealdah, Dum Dum and Bidhannagar Road Railway stations.
According to the divisional railway manager of Sealdah, Rajeev Saxena, as the crowd management measures have shown effective results during the recent Durga Puja rush days, the authorities are now planning to continue the crowd management initiatives at the three stations. As another festive rush period of Kali Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja is round the corner, the divisional railway authorities today announced further course of action to keep the anticipated crowd under control. To begin with, the stoppage of the present eight Mail/Express trains at Bidhannagar Road Railway station is to be temporarily withdrawn.
Presently, Bidhannagar Road railway station has stoppages of 13185 Sealdah-JYG Gangasagar Express, 13147 Sealdah BXT Uttarbanga Express, 13149 Sealdah-AODJ Kanchankanya Express and Sealdah MLCT Gour Express. However, the number of passengers boarding or deboarding these Mail/Express trains is as low as two to five per train, according to the DRM. “The trial of the withdrawal of stoppage of mail/express trains at Bidhannagar Road station is a temporary measure. After a nod from the Railway Board and following the norms, the system would be made permanent,” said the DRM at a Press conference on initiatives to be taken for crowd management during Kali Puja and Diwali.
By doing this, the divisional railway would utilise the capacity in enhancing the operations of the local trains.
Apart from this, Like Sealdah station, the authorities have now decided to segregate platforms for local EMUs and Mail/Express trains at Bidhannagar Road and Dum Dum stations. At Bidhannagar Road station, all Main Line UP local trains from Sealdah would be taken at platform No.1, while all mail/express trains would be passed through platform No. 2.” As there are space constraints at Bidhannagar Road station, particularly at platform No.2, which does not even have a three metres area, we have declared the station a vendor-free zone and a no tolerance policy at platform No.2,” pointed out Mr saxena.
At Dum Dum station, all the Main Line UP local trains towards Naihati, Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Gede, Berhampore Court and Lalgola have been planned to be handled at platform No.1 while the Down local EMUs from these stations are to be taken at a different platform. Platform No. 3 is to handle the UP local EMUs towards Barasat, Bangaon, Hasnabad and Dankuni along the trains coming from Ballygunge/Majerhat to the Main Line. The platforms 4 & 5 are to take the UP and Down trains from Kolkata terminal station along with the down trains from Barasat, Bangaon, Hasnabad and Dankuni direction.
At Sealdah station, which is anticipated to witness extra rush during Diwali and Chhath Puja, the authorities have planned to use a part of the parking area for holding the waiting passengers. “Facilities like seating arrangements and toilets for the waiting passengers would also be made available at the holding area,” added Mr Saxena.
Apart from this, the divisional railway has also decided to run Kali Puja special local EMUs on the intervening night of 20/21 October.
