Title - Santragachhi and Shalimar terminals to be set up at a cost of Rs 400 Crore

The Santragachhi and Shalimar terminals in Howrah are being set up at a cost of around Rs 400 crore to facilitate the introduction of 18 trains on southern and western routes from Kolkota, railway officials said. Both the terminals to be opened by 2015 will have facilities such as escalators, walkalators, food courts and car parks. There are three railway terminals at Howrah, Sealdah and Chitpore stations. As there is lack of enough space in Howrah station for any increase in capacity we are setting up two terminals in Shalimar and Santragachhi on a priority basis, A.K. Verma, general manager, South Eastern Railway said. The infrastructure at Santragachhi and Shalimar stations is inadequate for them to function as full-fledged terminals. Besides, passengers often complain about poor accessibility to the two stations. Santragachhi station has six platforms and will have two more to function as a terminal.

The capacity will increase from handling five to 15 trains. An elevated car park, taxi stand and bus terminals will be built adjacent to the terminal. “We will ensure that the upgrade does not harm the two water bodies on either side of the service road connecting Santragachhi to Kona Expressway,” said general manager Verma. A flyover from Kona Expressway will allow easy access for small vehicles from the city to the first floor of the terminal. According to the plan, passengers after entering the terminal building will take escalators to the ground-floor departure level. As for Shalimar, the plan is to increase the number of platforms from three to five. “There are two level crossings on the approach to Shalimar from Vidyasagar Setu. These will be closed and road overbridges built over them,” said Verma. “The station hardly has any passenger amenities now. Food courts, foot overbridges and subways will be built.”