MPs want three more rail terminals in Kolkata

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has asked the Union railway minister and the Railway Board to consider setting up of three more terminals in and around Kolkata, at Majherhat, Sargoli and Satragachi.

These will help accommodate the increase in daily passenger traffic flowing in and out of the city.

The railway ministry had already sanctioned the proposal, appointed a consultant to conduct a study and submit a report regarding the feasibility of the projects.

"Sealdah and Howrah terminals together handle 29 lakh passengers everyday and with 8 percent annual growth of the traffic we need to develop further terminals," said Basudeb Acharia, chairman of the committee.

He added that the rail infrastructure in the state is inadequate to handle the increasing suburban traffic at the city terminals.

"We have also recommended the ministry that all suburban trains should have 12 coaches," Acharia said while talking to the media in an interactive session organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Currently only 10 percent of suburban trains have 12 coaches and the rest have 8-9 coaches.

The committee also suggested that the frequency of the trains should be increased from 12 minutes to 3 minutes like in Mumbai, so that more passengers are accommodated hence a better capacity utilisation.

Commenting on the proposed Dum Dum-Dakshineshwar route for a possible extension of metro services, Acharia said the Metro Railway has completed the survey and has asked the sate government to bear half of the total project cost.

"The Metro railway would share the cost with the sate government on a 50:50 basis," he added.

However, the nod from the state government is awaited. Referring to the proposed Burdwan-Katwa broad gauge line Acharia said that the West Bengal government has already deposited its share of Rs 10 crore which constitutes 50 percent of the total cost and has asked the railway board to commence the project as soon as possible.