The divisional railway office of Sealdah has sent a proposal to the city traffic police with recommendations to improve the vehicular volume in the circulating area in front of the main building at Sealdah railway station. The station, handling a massive footfall of around 12 lakh per day, according to divisional railway sources, is set to see a major revamp in the next few years. Sealdah Station is one of the 17 stations that have been picked for a facelift by the Railways under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

“A master plan for the redevelopment has been made and the work is to be done in phases. In the first phase, improvement of the façade, circulating area, concourse, provision of signages, train indication boards, radio walls, redevelopment of platform numbers 12 and 13 seating arrangements, solar panels and so on are planned,” informed the divisional railway manager of Sealdah, Deepak Nigam. The divisional office has already worked on the lighting of the façade of the main station building, giving it an improved look.

The Sealdah Division of the Eastern Railway is targeting to complete work on the first phase in the upcoming fiscal of 2024-2025. Talking about improving the circulating area outside the station building, Mr Nigam, said, “We have proposed some circulating arrangements and had preliminary discussions with the Traffic Department and have submitted a plan to them. A meeting would be held with them soon to incorporate their views.” It is learnt the traffic department has asked for an hourly traffic census, which has been prepared by the divisional railway.

The DRM was speaking during the curtain raiser programme on the upcoming mega foundation stone laying by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing tomorrow. Eight stations are to see the foundation stone laying tomorrow for redevelopment at a cost of Rs 121.47 crores. In addition, two underpasses in Krishnanagar-Lalgola section, completed by the railway division, would also be dedicated to the nation by the PM tomorrow. According to the DRM, the division authorities drafted an elaborate plan to decongest and streamline the vehicular volume at the circulating area in front of the main station building.

The division has proposed separate entry and exit points for vehicles in the circulating area. It has proposed specific laning and drop points for vehicles like taxis, cabs, auto rickshaws and so on. For this, the city metro railway is also to be approached as the carrier is one of the stakeholders.

As learnt, the lanes for vehicles are to include canopies for which foundation work is to be done. The division authorities would have to seek permission from the metro railway for proceeding with the canopy foundation works. Notably, earlier a ramp was also planned near the flyover close to the station.

As pointed out by the DRM, the ramp would also be incorporated as and when the funds are available in phases. Notably, the division has undertaken the extension work of platforms numbers one to five at Sealdah Station for accommodating 12-coach trains. As informed by the divisional railway sources, two platforms to be ready by March and the remaining by May