Aamaar Howrah! Decoding India’s oldest and busiest railway station – Check the history, interesting facts

Aamaar Howrah! Decoding India’s oldest and busiest railway station – Check the history, interesting facts

The Indian Railways has many big feats and Howrah railway station is definitely one of them. Established in the 1850s, the railway station is a testament to India’s rich railway network as it holds the distinction of being one of the oldest and busiest railway stations in the country.

With a sprawling layout, Howrah station boasts an extensive network of platforms, catering to the diverse needs of passengers and acting as the gateway of West Bengal to the rest of the country. With 23 platforms, the Howrah station has the highest handling capacity of any railway station in India and it is one of the packed railway stations in terms of passenger volume per day.

The station’s huge red brick building and iconic architecture reflect a blend of colonial and indigenous styles, with its imposing façade and large dome making it a landmark in the region.

Tracking the historic first Journey from Howrah

Designed by the British architect Halsey Ricardo, the Howrah railway station saw the first train commercial run from Howrah to Hooghly (24 miles) on August 15, 1854. On the same day, regular services were introduced for morning and evening with stoppage at Bally, Serampore, and Chandannagore.

The Eastern Railway, Howrah Division is a synthesis of history, culture, and modern technology, which plays an important role as a spoke in the moving wheel of the Indian Railways. Today, the Eastern Railway comprises four divisions viz, Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol & Malda. Howrah Division is the oldest Division of the Eastern Railway.

Notably, the Howrah division caters to important places of tourist places such as, Shantiniketan (Bolpur), Belur Math (Belur), Tarapith (Rampurhat), Tarakeswar, Hooghly Imambara & Portuguese Church (Bandel), Nabadwip Dham (ISKCON temple), Azimganj (Hazarduri) and Bardhaman among others.

A station with state-of-art facilities

To bolster the safety and security at the station, a core group of Sr. supervisors look after the various works related to the overall improvement of the station. Besides random monitoring daily, a special cleanliness drive takes place daily to maintain hygiene standards at the station.Additionally, the station has a task-force of TC/TT and Railway Police Force (RPF) staff, which provides foolproof security and detection of unauthorised trolleys and unbooked luggage.

The station also boasts the punctual running of daily commuter services (EMU trains) including 72% of daily commuters. At present punctuality of EMU locals at Howrah station is 99%.

Further, the railway station is equipped with advanced electronic TIB/CIBs, large electronic display boards/ TVs, emergency lighting arrangements, signage, Q-line steel barriers at booking counters, an advanced drainage system, and a renovated water booth with RO plant.Notably, the station has opened a new Taxi stand and e-taxi system with the help of the city police for smooth passenger connectivity.The railway station also has a museum that exhibits the historical development of Indian Railways with plush green lawns,and bollard lighting. Century-old Howrah station was tagged as the first green railway station among the metropolitan cities by the Indian Green Building Council – Confederation of Indian Industries (IGBC-CII).