Sealdah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sealdah (In Bengali: শিয়ালদহ) is one of the major train stations serving Kolkata (Calcutta) in India, the others being Howrah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata Station. Sealdah is one of the busiest rail stations in India. It is famous for the suburban local train terminal. There are two sections, Sealdah North and Sealdah South. These town sections have separate set of emerging tracks.
The southern section acts as the terminal for local trains plying between Kolkata and Diamond Harbour, Budgebudge, Canning, and Namkhana. The south section has 5 platforms numbering 10 to 14. The north section acts as the terminal for local trains is the terminal for 2 divisions: the main division and the Bangaon division. The north section has 12 platforms numbering 1 to 4, 4A, 5 to 9, 9A & 9B. Except platform 4A, 9, 9A & 9B and 10 to 14, all platforms are partly under decorated shed. The main division of Sealdah north (colloquially the main line) operates train plying between Kolkata and Bandel, Kalyani Simanta, Gede, Shantipur, Krishnanagar, Dankuni and others. A narrow gauge line connects Shantipur and Krishnanagar. This line continues to Nabadwip Ghat. These narrow gauge lines are served by DMU trains (all other lines run EMU trains). There is a plan to extend the suburban train service from Krishnanagar to Palashi, which is currently served by electric loco hauled trains. Dankuni line connects Eastern Railway's Howrah line at Bali and Dankuni. Bandel line connects Eastern Railway's Howrah line at Bandel.
The Bongaon division handles trains for Kolkata Airport, Bongaon, Hasnabad and others. Bangaon and Ranaghat are also connected. The main division also handles long distance trains connecting all over India, especially to northern, north-western, north-eastern & eastern India, through Dankuni line and Bandel line. Krishnanagar line is also serving long distance intrastate trains.
The north and south section is connected by two links, one is Dumdum-Majherhat link (popularly circular rail), and other is Bidhannagar-Parkcircus link (extension of circular rail). These two links were constructed to quickly travel between the two sections avoiding Sealdah.
Before partition in 1947 of India, Gede line and Bangaon line were continued to present-day Bangladesh.
There is also an EMU carshed at Sealdah. Other EMU carsheds are at Barasat & Sonarpur. A diesel shunter loco shed is also situated at adjacent Beliaghata.
Before 1978, there was a tram terminus at Sealdah station. Trams departed from here towards Rajabazar, Howrah Station, High Court, Dalhousie Square, Park Circus and Dharmatala. The first horse tram service of Kolkata was also started from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat, following the currently route 13, 14 & 16 between Lebutala & Dalhousie Square. The Sealdah-Lebutala & Dalhousie Square-Armenian Ghat (later extended to High Court) stretch has now closed. That terminus was demolished in 1978 also with the Sealdah-Lebutala tram track stretched through Boubazar Street for construction of the Sealdah flyover. Actually the flyover is not enough high to pass tramway tracks under it. However, after its construction, tram tracks relaid on the flyover, and tram services are now running through Sealdah, not from Sealdah, between Rajabazar-Dharmatala, Parkcircus-Barhabazar etc. The place of former tram terminus is now car parking place.
When the Kolkata metro line 2 would be built, it will pass through Sealdah.
Long distance Passenger Trains from Sealdah are Muzaffarpur, Rampurhat, Lalgola
Mail/Express Trains leaving Sealdah: Guwahati, New Coochbehar, Alipurduar, New Alipurduar, Haldibari, New Jalpaiguri, Amritsar, Jaynagar, Udaipur, Delhi, New Delhi, Saharsa, Malda Town, Lalgola, Asansol, Varanasi, Jaipur, Ballia
Contents |
[edit] Politics
Current MLA from Sealdah assembly constituency is Somendranath Mitra of INC, who won the seat in State elections of 2006 and also earlier in 2001, 1996, 1991, 1987 and 1982. Binoy Bannerjee of JNP was MLA from this seat in 1977.[1]
Sealdah assembly constituency is part of Calcutta North East (Lok Sabha constituency).[2]
[edit] Gallery
 A stationary rajdhani train |
 Sealdah station |
 Rampurhat passenger leaving Sealdah |
 Outlook of the building of Sealdah north section |
 Outside of Sealdah station |
 Platform of sealdah station |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "State Elections 2006 - Partywise Comparision for 17-Sealdah Constituency of West Bengal". Election Commission of India. http://eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp17.htm. Retrieved on 2008-10-22.
- ^ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). West Bengal. Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_Dist_PC_AC.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-10-01.
