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New Kolaghat bridge to end major bottleneck on Howrah-Kharagpur railway section: ‘Every effort being made’
The bridge currently carries the Middle and Down Main lines between Deulti and Kolaghat stations. Due to its deteriorating condition, South Eastern Railway has been forced to impose stringent safety restrictions
The Kolaghat bridge is expected to restore full-speed operations across three lines, substantially enhancing line capacity for both suburban and long-distance trains on the section. (Express Photo)
The South Eastern Railway (SER) has approved a major infrastructure project to replace the ageing Kolaghat Bridge No 57 on the Howrah–Kharagpur section, one of the busiest rail corridors in eastern India. The new bridge, to be built at a cost of Rs 418.11 crore, is aimed at removing a long-standing operational bottleneck on the route.
Commissioned in 1900, the existing 804-metre steel girder bridge over the Rupnarayan river has completed its codal life of 125 years. Railway officials said the structure is no longer capable of handling the load and frequency of present-day rail traffic.
The bridge currently carries the Middle and Down Main lines between Deulti and Kolaghat stations. Due to its deteriorating condition, SER has been forced to impose stringent safety restrictions, significantly affecting train operations.
Freight trains and most Mail and Express services are no longer permitted to run on the Down Main line over the old bridge. Almost all downward traffic is now being routed through a single Middle line. Passenger trains that are allowed to cross the bridge must adhere to a speed restriction of 30 kmph.
In addition, reversible signalling is being used to divert trains onto one track, requiring complex operational adjustments at station ends. Officials said this often triggers a cascading effect of delays, especially during peak hours.
The vision for 2027: A state-of-the-art replacement
The replacement bridge is being planned as a 100-year asset, incorporating modern engineering standards. According to SER, the new structure will consist of a combination of composite and open web girders along with an integrated viaduct, laid on a redesigned alignment.
The bridge is expected to restore full-speed operations across three lines, substantially enhancing line capacity for both suburban and long-distance trains on the section.
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“Every effort is being made to ensure safe and seamless train movement under the present constraints,” an SER spokesperson said, adding that safety remains the top priority during the construction phase.
The new Kolaghat bridge is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2027, which railway officials say will bring faster travel, improved safety and relief from the long-running operational slowdown on the Bengal suburban network.
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