Kolkata, June 26: For the first time in about 40 years, the Howrah Railway Station would be completely shut down to rail traffic for 24 hours from the night of September 12 for upgrading the signalling system. From September 12 night to September 13 night, no long distance or local train would either leave or arrive at the station, eastern railway chief operations manager Subhash Ranjan Thakur told a press meet here today.

The shutdown was being affected for upgradation of a route Relay Interlocking System (RRI) between Howrah station and Tikiapara car shed, he said.

"The last RRI was installed in 1965 and it has been operating for over 37 years now. It is no longer possible to maintain the old RRI cabin and we will have to replace it," he said.

During daytime on September 12, a few trains would, however, run to and from the railway terminus.

A few local trains would remain operational from neighbouring Liluah, Bally and Dankuni stations during the day of the shutdown.

The West Bengal Transport Department has been requested to provide more buses at these stations to ferry daily commuters to the metropolis.
Passengers of long distance trains have been requested not to buy tickets on the scheduled date when the work begins, Thakur added.

About 250 pairs of trains of eastern and south-eastern railway leave Howrah station daily and the shutdown is estimated to affect several lakhs of commuters.

Bureau Report