New booking counter aims to ease queues at Barrackpore, while airport-style Pay & Use toilet complexes open at Sealdah and Ballygunge ahead of the festive rush.
Barrackpore: With Durga Puja approaching and passenger numbers expected to surge across Kolkata’s suburban railway network, Sealdah Division has stepped up efforts to improve station facilities and make festive travel more convenient.
In a move aimed at easing passenger congestion, a new ticket booking counter has opened at Barrackpore station. Modern, airport-style Pay & Use toilet complexes have also been opened to the public at Sealdah and Ballygunge stations, while a similar facility at Dum Dum is expected to become operational shortly before Puja.
The developments come as thousands of commuters and Puja visitors are expected to rely on suburban trains to reach pandals, shopping destinations and family gatherings across the city and its adjoining areas.
New Booking Counter to Ease Barrackpore Station Rush
The newly opened booking counter at Barrackpore station is located towards the Ranaghat end. The additional facility is expected to provide commuters with another option for purchasing tickets, particularly during peak hours and the Durga Puja rush.
The location is also intended to improve passenger movement by making better use of the station’s wide foot overbridge (FOB) and an additional entry point. By distributing passenger movement more effectively, the initiative is expected to help reduce congestion around the existing ticketing facilities.
For daily commuters as well as festive travellers, an additional booking counter could prove useful during periods when queues and crowd movement put pressure on station infrastructure.
Airport-Style Toilet Facilities Open at Sealdah, Ballygunge
Passenger amenities have also received attention, with modern Pay & Use toilet complexes at Sealdah and Ballygunge stations opening on Tuesday, October 13.
Designed to accommodate heavy passenger footfall, the complexes include separate facilities for men, women and persons with disabilities (Divyangjan). Hygiene, cleanliness and passenger comfort have been identified as key features of the upgraded facilities.
A similar toilet complex at Dum Dum station is scheduled to open shortly before Durga Puja, extending the initiative to another important suburban railway station.
The availability of improved sanitation facilities is particularly important during the festive period, when stations experience increased footfall and passengers may spend longer periods travelling or waiting for trains.
Sealdah Division Focuses on Festive Passenger Convenience
Sealdah Division, which serves a large number of suburban commuters across Kolkata and surrounding areas, faces the annual challenge of managing increased passenger movement during Durga Puja.
The latest initiatives focus on two essential aspects of station management: smoother ticket purchasing and better access to basic passenger amenities.
DRM Sealdah Rajeev Saxena said the measures reflect the division’s continued efforts to address passengers’ practical needs through improved infrastructure and essential facilities.
He emphasised that focused efforts were being made to ensure smoother movement, greater convenience and a more comfortable travel experience, particularly during the festive season when lakhs of people depend on suburban railway services.
With the new booking counter operational and toilet complexes at two major stations open, the focus will now be on ensuring that the facilities serve passengers effectively as the Durga Puja rush builds across the Sealdah network.
