News By Asish Basak
Photos By Narendra Krishna Pal
_Sealdah Division Gears Up for Durga Puja 2026 with Enhanced Train Connectivity and Upgraded Passenger Facilities_
– Total 51 special trains in Puja peak 16-21st October against 31 last year, including 38 overnight special trains during night hours and 13 special trains during the evening peak hours.-
Pre-Puja special trains from 10–15 Oct in Sealdah–Lalgola section.-
All suburban MEMU/EMU trains to halt at all stations from originating after 2:00 PM onwards throughout the Puja days.
KOLKATA: 07.10.2026
To keep the festive spirit moving effortlessly, Sealdah Division is fully geared up for Durga Puja 2026. Anticipating a massive surge in passenger footfall, the division has prioritized round-the-clock train connectivity, round-the-clock safety monitoring, and upgraded station infrastructure for a comfortable and stress-free journey.At Sealdah Station, designated entry and exit routes through Prafulla Dwar, North, Main, Central, and South gates will streamline crowd movement. During peak Puja days, 51 special EMU services will run daily—up from 31 services last year—while 80 special long-distance train trips have been scheduled between October 10 and 25, compared to 50 trips in 2025. Furthermore, to make suburban travel seamless, galloping EMU trains will halt at all flag and halt stations from 2:00 PM onwards throughout the Puja days.
Additionally, 13 special trains will operate during the evening peak hours across the North, Main, and South sections to accommodate the surge of commuters and pandal-hoppers.Pandal-hoppers and late-night commuters can rely on 38 overnight special EMU services operating across the Main, North, and South sections. Round-the-clock safety and ground assistance remain central to the plan, anchored by a dedicated 24×7 War Room that continuously tracks crowd movements via CCTV networks and coordinates real-time responses across departments.Major stations are equipped with standby train rakes, reserve loco crews, regular public announcements, medical booths, help desks, and quick-response mobile maintenance teams. In addition, major station facilities have been enhanced with additional toilet blocks at Sealdah, Ballygunge, and Dum Dum, an upgraded circulating area at Dum Dum to ease road congestion, and focused roadway improvements at level crossing gates to prevent bottlenecks.To manage the Pre-Puja passenger rush in the Lalgola section, four special EMU trains will operate along the Sealdah–Ranaghat–Lalgola route from October 10 to 15, offering convenient travel options ahead of the main rush mainly to cater shoppers from this region.Station infrastructure across this corridor is being upgraded to handle the influx, featuring temporary booking and exit counters at Ranaghat along with a newly opened ticket counter at Barrackpore near the Ranaghat-end(FOB) to minimize queuing and ensure smooth passenger transit.Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Sealdah, Sri Rajeev Saxena stated, Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal, and our utmost priority is to deliver a safe, comfortable, and seamless travel experience for every commuter and devotee. We have substantially reinforced our operational network with overnight services, 24×7 war room surveillance, and upgraded passenger amenities across all major stations.
Every frontline team remains on high alert around the clock to ensure that the festive celebrations are entirely hassle-free._
Sealdah Division Enhances Suburban Connectivity with Additional Services, and AC EMU Stoppage on the eve of Puja._
Kolkata: 07 Oct 2026After Durga Puja celebration, Sealdah Division has rolled out a series of passenger-centric operational enhancements. Aimed at making daily suburban travel faster, more convenient, and comfortable, these new experimental services and Stoppage address major passenger demands across suburban routes.-
_Enhanced Frequency on Shantipur – Krishnanagar Section:_Addressing long-standing regional travel needs, daily services between Shantipur (STB) and Krishnanagar City Junction (KRISHNANAGAR CITY JUNCTION ) via Dignagar Halt have been increase from 1 pair to 2 pairs. The morning UP train departs Shantipur at 09:34 hrs to reach Krishnanagar City at 10:07 hrs, while on the return DN run, it leaves Krishnanagar at 10:17 hrs, arriving back at Shantipur at 10:43 hrs, greatly benefiting office-goers, students, and local passengers.-
_Late-Night EMU Service between Sealdah and Budge Budge:_To facilitate hassle-free transit for late-shift workers, Sealdah Division has introduced an experimental late-night suburban service between Sealdah (SEALDAH) and Komagata Maru Budge Budge (KBGB). The DN train departs Sealdah at 22:55 hrs, arriving at Budge Budge at 23:43 hrs. The return UP service departs Budge Budge at 23:54 hrs, reaching Sealdah at 00:48 hrs, ensuring safe and reliable late-hour suburban connectivity.-
_New AC EMU Stoppages at Badkulla :_Bringing premium comfort to suburban travellers, experimental stoppages have been provided for four AC EMU local trains at Badkulla station on Sealdah–Krishnanagar section:o
_Daily Services (Except Sundays):_ Train No. 31845 UP (SEALDAH–KRISHNANAGAR CITY JN.) halts at Badkulla from 11:53/11:54 hrs, and Train No. 31846 DN (KRISHNANAGAR CITY JUNCTION – SEALDAH) halt at 13:40/13:41 hrs.o
_Sunday Special Schedule:_ Train No. 31847 UP (SEALDAH–KRISHNANAGAR CITY JUNCTION ) halt between 13:59/14:00 hrs, while Train No. 31848 DN (KRISHNANAGAR CITY JUNCTION – SEALDAH) stop at 16:15/16:16 hrs.
In this context DRM Sealdah Sri Rajeev Saxena said that, these additions—including expanded suburban frequency, dedicated late-night connectivity on the Budge Budge section, and new AC halts at Badkulla—are thoughtfully designed to cater to the evolving needs of daily commuters. Sealdah Division remains firmly committed to making railway travel more accessible, reliable and comfortable for everyone.
