Howrah station area set for a facelift with skywalk, subways, and 13-storey hub

A skywalk proposed by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will connect the complex with Howrah station. The current plan for it is to extend up to Platform 8, allowing passengers to access Platform 1 to 8 although officials said the final alignment would be decided after the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is prepared.

The proposed infrastructure is aimed at improving movement in an area through which around 60 lakh passengers pass daily, according to officials.

The state also plans to spend Rs 45 crore on renovating the station’s 350-metre main subway and 50-metre ferry ghat subway. The work will include granite flooring, PVC ceilings, LED lighting, escalators, CCTV cameras, fire-safety systems and digital signage. Officials said work is expected to begin after Durga Puja and be completed before Puja 2027

The projects will require coordination between Indian Railways, KMDA, Howrah Municipal Corporation and the state government.

During a recent site visit, Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Umesh Rai said the area outside the station was in poor condition and needed to be redeveloped.

“The condition of the area outside the Howrah Railway station is in dilapidated condition. It is messy,” Rai said. He said different agencies had control over different portions of the area and that the DPR would provide greater clarity on the proposed skywalk and other works.

The need for better infrastructure is particularly evident at the bus terminal outside the station, officials said. With heavy passenger movement and congestion, commuters often have difficulty locating buses after exiting the station.

The proposed redevelopment, however, comes amid complaints about basic civic services in the area. Residents have raised concerns over garbage removal and open urination along the approach roads and near the subway.

“What about piles of garbage outside the Howrah station area near the subway and on the entire approach road?” said Howrah resident Ramesh Gupta. “The garbage stinks like it has not been cleaned for months. Open urination is everywhere and urine flows through the roads.”

An administrative official said the proposal was still at an early stage. “This is just a plan and at a very primary stage. If executed properly, it will change the entire Howrah station area in a few years,” the official said.