173-year-old Howrah railway station to get new platform this month to handle rising train traffic

3 min readJul 4, 2026 02:03 PM IST

Howrah railway station is set to expand its infrastructure with a new platform expected to become operational this month. (Image enhanced with AI) (Source: Ministry of Railways)

Howrah railway station upgradation: The Ministry of Railways has planned to commission a new platform at Howrah railway station to handle rising train traffic. With this, the total number of platforms at the 173-year-old railway station will rise to 24. It is one of the oldest and largest railway stations in the country; the history of Howrah station in West Bengal dates back to 1854.

Expansion of Howrah railway station

Over the years, Howrah Railway Station has undergone expansion multiple times to meet the rising demand. In 1905, six new platforms were added, increasing the total to seven. In 1984, eight more platforms were constructed, increasing the count to 15. A new terminal complex was built in 1992, along with four additional platforms. Later, in 2009, the station was further expanded, raising the total number of platforms to 23. It falls under the administrative control of Eastern Railway’s Howrah Division.

Howrah railway station to open platform number 24 this month

In a statement, the zonal railway said that a new platform number 24 at Howrah Terminal is set to be commissioned this month. The 635-metre-long platform number 24 will accommodate 24-coach long-distance Mail/Express trains.

It added that four more platforms are also being extended to accommodate longer trains as part of the station’s ongoing capacity expansion. The extension of existing platforms will improve accommodation of longer coach formations, thereby increasing train capacity and operational flexibility.

“At Howrah Terminal, a new 635-metre Platform No. 24 has been built at a cost of Rs 2.69 crore and is set to be commissioned by July 2026, while Platforms 10-11 and 12-13 are being extended (Rs 17.59 crore) for longer-length trains,” it added.

Howrah Station – Platform Extension PlanProposed extension to accommodate longer trains · Platforms 10–13

🚆 Extensions proposed to accommodate longer trains — total additions range from 89 to 112 metres per platform

430 m

+112 m

430 m

Existing

+112 m

Extension

542 m

Final Length

435 m

+107 m

435 m

Existing

+107 m

Extension

542 m

Final Length

487.5 m

+103.5 m

487.5 m

Existing

+103.5 m

Extension

591 m

Final Length

457.7 m

+89.3 m

457.7 m

Existing

+89.3 m

Extension

547 m

Final Length

Existing length

Proposed extension

Final length after extension

Maintenance of Vande Bharat trains at Howrah

For the maintenance of Vande Bharat trains, the zonal railway is also undertaking a shunting-neck extension at Liluah. The project will improve connectivity to the Liluah Workshop, where a new Periodic Overhaul (POH) facility for Vande Bharat trains is being developed.

“A new Route Relay Interlocking is due for commissioning at Howrah within this fiscal, alongside yard re-modelling, and a shunting-neck extension at Liluah will also improve connectivity to Liluah Workshop for the upcoming POH facility for Vande Bharat trains,” it said.

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Earlier, speaking to Indianexpress.com, Shibram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Railway, said that several measures have been taken to reduce the waiting time of long-distance trains approaching Howrah railway station, particularly those arriving via South Eastern Railway (SER) routes.

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors.

Professional Journey

Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com.

Education & Expertise

Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities:

Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University

Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication

Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta

Areas of Coverage

Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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