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{{short description|Railway line in Kolkata}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|50px]] Kolkata Circular Railway
| color = A0522D
| image = Circular Train Crossing Mayer Ghat - Baghbazar Railway Station - Kolkata 2017-04-29 1929.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| caption = A local train at [[Bagbazar railway station]]
| type = [[Commuter rail]]
| system = [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]]
| locale = [[Kolkata]]
| start = [[Dum Dum Junction railway station|Dum Dum Junction]]
| end = [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]]
| stations = {{Unbulleted list|Total stations: 20|Interchange stations: 8}}
| routes = Dum Dum-Majerhat and Majerhat-Bidhannagar Road
| open = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1984|8|16}}
| owner = [[Indian Railways|Indian Railway]]
| operator = [[Eastern Railway Zone (India)|Eastern Railway]]
| character = At grade and elevated
| depot = [[Kolkata railway station|Kolkata]]<br />[[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]]
| stock = [[Electrical Multiple Unit|EMU]]s
| linelength = {{convert|36.2|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 2
| gauge = {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]]
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = 25 kV overhead line
| speed = up to 100 km per hour
| elevation =
| website = {{url|http://www.er.indianrailways.gov.in|Eastern Railway}}
| map = {{Kolkata Circular Railway routemap}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}
'''Kolkata Circular Railway''' is a [[railway]] loop line operated by the [[Eastern Railway zone]] of [[Indian Railways]], encircling the entire city of [[Kolkata]].

==Service==
[[File:Shobhabazar - ahiritola station.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Shobhabazar - Ahiritola station of circular railway]]
The line begins and terminates at [[Dum Dum Junction]], with a total of 19 stations spread over the route's 36.20 kilometers length[[Dum Dum Junction railway station|(Dumdum junction]] to [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] via [[Prinsep Ghat railway station|Princepghat]] route :- 18.00 km & [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] to [[Dum Dum Junction railway station|Dumdum junction]] via [[Ballygunge Junction railway station|Ballygunge Junction]] route :- 18.20 km). Services on the line are operated as an extension of the [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]], partially sharing tracks with the [[Sealdah South lines]], terminating at [[Sealdah railway station]] (which is bypassed by the Circular Railway). There are no services which operate throughout the loop as a whole; instead, services are operated from [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]] to [[Majerhat Railway Station|Majerhat]] (via [[Prinsep Ghat railway station|Princepghat]]) and Majerhat to [[Dum Dum Junction]] (via [[Ballygunge Junction railway station|Ballygunge Junction]]). The line operates a part of longer suburban services from [[Budge Budge]], [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], [[Barrackpore]], [[Hasnabad]], [[Kalyani, West Bengal|Kalyani]], [[Naihati]] etc.

The Circular Railway offers direct interchange points with the [[Kolkata Metro]] at [[Dum Dum railway station|Dum Dum Junction]]. The loop line serves [[Kolkata railway station]], one of the major intercity stations in Kolkata, as well as a number of prominent city landmarks including [[Prinsep Ghat]] and [[Eden Gardens]]. In addition, a {{convert|3.7|km|abbr=on}} long line connecting Dum Dum Cantonment to the [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport]] became the first such suburban railway line in India to serve an airport and allowed extended Circular Railway operations from Dum Dum Junction and beyond. However, the poorly-patronized branch line between [[Dum Dum Cantonment railway station]] and Biman Bandar railway station is replaced by [[Kolkata Metro Line 4|Line 4]] (under construction) of the [[Kolkata Metro]], which follows the same route.<ref name="Services End">{{cite news |title=Services End on Kolkata's Circular Railway|url=https://themetrorailguy.com/2016/10/13/services-end-on-kolkatas-circular-railway-to-facilitate-metros-construction/}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Circular Railway Track - Kolkata 2012-09-22 0330.JPG|100px|thumb|Circular Railway track]]
With the population of the [[Kolkata]] metropolis continuing to grow, and road transport being unable to cope with demand due to bottlenecks on the roads, it was felt necessary to introduce an additional method of transportation which would ease the congestion problem particularly at peak hours. Of the various modes considered, including [[tram]]cars and [[bus]]es, the railway was found to be most suitable. Unlike other metropolitan cities, Kolkata does not have a rail route running through the heart of the city, nor through the central district area where more commuters will be seeking their transport.

[[File:Bagbazar station.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Bagbazar station of circular railway]]
Previously a railway line existed between Dum Dum railway station to [[Ultadanga]] for the transport of wagons to [[Kolkata Railway Station|Chitpur]] Goods Yard. For a considerable time, lines ran between [[B. B. D. Bagh|B.B.D. Bagh]] and [[Majerhat Railway Station|Majerhat]] for the transport of goods from the port area to the godowns (warehouses) of the [[Port of Kolkata|Calcutta port]] along the [[Hooghly River]]. These were built during the early [[East Indian Railway Company]] (EIR) period when the river Hooghly was navigable to this area. Gradually with the [[silt]]ing of Hooghly, and its inaccessibility to bigger ships, these lines ceased to be used. With these existing lines being rehabilitated and small stretches of new track being laid in a few locations, a connection could be established between Dum Dum Junction and Prinsep Ghat along the bank of the Hooghly.

[[File:Eden gardens station.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Eden Gardens station of Circular Railway]]
The original line was a single-line track with loading and unloading sidings and wharfs. A few platforms were built and simultaneous reception facilities were constructed at some stations. The line was commissioned from Dum Dum railway station to Prinsep Ghat on 16 August 1984. In fact the lines from the port of Calcutta already existed for an interchange yard for [[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railways]], and these lines were modified/extended/realigned for the Circular Railway. Previously the trains were hauled by [[Diesel locomotive|diesel shunters]]. The [[Railway electrification system|electrification]] works have been completed and four [[Electrical Multiple Unit]] (EMU) trains originally destined for [[Sealdah railway station|Sealdah]] during office hours have been diverted to the central business district of Kolkata directly, avoiding Sealdah station. The line has been an overwhelming success with commuters and the earnings have quadrupled with the introduction of EMUs. Once connected to Majerhat a train can easily ply up to Dum Dum to complete the circle. This has been a boon to office-goers. The Circular Railway is directly managed by the Eastern Railway. The Circular Railway is a part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway along with the [[Kolkata Metro]] to provide connectivity throughout the city. The line is a single-lined track from Tala station to [[Prinsep Ghat railway station|Princep Ghat station]], but in the platform area it becomes double-lined for crossing. From Princep Ghat the line becomes single-tracked until it reaches Majerhat.

==Stations==
List of Kolkata Circular Railway stations in anti-circular way:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" width="65%"
|-
! rowspan="2" width="1%" |#
! colspan="3" width="5%" |Station Name
! rowspan="2" width="10%" |Connections
! rowspan="2" width="10%" |Picture
! rowspan="2" |Notes
|-
![[English language|English]]||[[Bengali language|Bengali]]|| Code
|-
| rowspan="3" |1|| rowspan="3" |{{rws|Dum Dum Junction}}|| rowspan="3" | দমদম জংশন || rowspan="3" | DDJ ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Eastern line (Kolkata Suburban Railway)|Eastern line]]
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Dumdum Junction.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="3" |
|-
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Chord link line (Kolkata Suburban Railway)|Chord link line]]
|-
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|m}} {{metro|Dum Dum}}
|-
|2||{{rws|Patipukur}}|| পাতিপুকুর || PTKR ||{{Spaced en dash}}||
|
|-
|3||'''{{rws|Kolkata}}'''|| কলকাতা || KOAA ||{{Spaced en dash}}
|[[File:Kolkata Station.JPG|180x180px|alt=]]
|Major railway station of Eastern Railway
|-
|4||{{rws|Tala}}|| টালা || TALA ||{{Spaced en dash}}
|
|
|-
|5||{{rws|Bagbazar}}|| বাগবাজার || BBR ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} Bagbazar Launch Ghat||[[File:Bagbazar railway station.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |6|| rowspan="2" |{{rws|Sovabazar Ahiritola}}|| rowspan="2" | শোভাবাজার আহিরীটোলা || rowspan="2" | SOLA ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} Sovabazar Launch Ghat
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Sovabazar ahritola.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="2" |
|-
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} Ahiritola Ghat
|-
|7||{{rws|Burra Bazar||Burrabazar}}|| বড়বাজার || BZB ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} Jagannath Ghat ||
|
|-
|8||{{rws|B.B.D Bag}}|| বি.বা.দি. বাগ || BBDB ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} Fairlie Place Ghat||[[File:BBD_Bag_Station.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|9||{{rws|Eden Gardens}}|| ইডেন গার্ডেন্স || EDG ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} [[Outram Ghat]]||[[File:Eden Garden Railway Station - Kolkata 2012-01-14 0546.JPG|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|10||{{rws|Prinsep Ghat}}|| প্রিন্সেপ ঘাট || PPGT ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ferry}} [[Prinsep Ghat]]||[[File:Prinsep Ghat Railway Station Arnab Dutta 2011.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|11||{{rws|Khiddirpur}}|| খিদিরপুর || KIRP ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|m}} {{metro|Kidderpore}}
|
|
|-
|12||{{rws|Remount Road}}|| রিমাউন্ট রোড || RMTR ||{{Spaced en dash}}
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |13
| rowspan="2" |{{rws|Majerhat}}
| rowspan="2" |মাঝেরহাট
| rowspan="2" |MJT
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Majerhat Railway Station Front View 001.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="2" |
|-
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|m}} {{metro|Majerhat}}
|-
|14||{{rws|New Alipore}}|| নিউ আলিপুর || NACC ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]
|[[File:New Alipore Railway Station Area - Kolkata 2015-10-10 6475.JPG|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|15
| rowspan="2"|{{rws|Tollygunge}}
| rowspan="2"| টালিগঞ্জ
| rowspan="2"| TLG
| {{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Tollygunge Railway Station.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
| rowspan="2"|
|-
|{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|m}} {{metro|Rabindra Sarobar}}
|-
|16||{{rws|Lake Gardens}}|| লেক গার্ডেন্স || LKF || {{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]
|
|
|-
|17||{{rws|Ballygunge Junction||Ballygunge}}|| বালিগঞ্জ || BLN ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]||[[File:Ballygunge Junction railway station.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|18||{{rws|Park Circus}}|| পার্ক সার্কাস || PQS ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|s}} [[Sealdah South lines|Sealdah South line]]||[[File:Park circus railway station in Sealda section 3.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|19||{{rws|Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt}}|| স্যার গুরুদাস ব্যানার্জি হল্ট || SGBA ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|ewm}} {{metro|Phoolbagan}}||[[File:Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt station 03.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|-
|20||{{rws|Bidhannagar Road}}|| বিধাননগর রোড || BNXR ||{{Rail-interchange|kolkata|tram}} Bidhannagar ||[[File:Bidhannagar station.jpg|180x180px|alt=]]
|
|}

==Trains with Extended Route==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Train Name !! From !! To !! Daily Frequency
|-
| Canning-Barasat Local || {{rws|Canning|India}} || [[Barasat Junction railway station|Barasat]] || 3
|-
| Bangaon - Canning Local || {{rws|Bangaon}} || [[Canning railway station (India)|Canning]] || 1
|-
| Champahati - Majerhat - Hasanabad Local (Via Tala) || {{rws|Champahati}} || [[Hasnabad railway station|Hasnabad]] || 1
|-
| Duttapukur - Ghutiary Sharif (Via Dum Dum, Kolkata,Bagbazar,Khidirpur,Majerhat, Ballygunge And Gourdaha) Local || [[Duttapukur]] || [[Ghutiari Sharif railway station|Ghutiari Sharrif]] || 1
|-
| Barasat - Majerhat Local (via - B.B.D. Bagh) || [[Barasat Junction railway station|Barasat]] || [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] || 1
|-
| Madhyamgram - Majerhat Local || {{rws|Madhyamgram}} || [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] || 1
|-
| Gede-Majerhat Local (Via Tala) || [[Gede railway station|Gede]] || [[Majerhat railway station|Majerhat]] || 1
|-
|}

==Closure of airport extension==
Kolkata's Circular Railway was extended from Dum Dum Cantonment to Biman Bandar/[[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport]]. The {{convert|3.8|km|abbr=on}} extension from Dum Dum Cantonment station included two elevated stations Jessore Road and Biman Bandar. It ran at grade to UK Dutta Road and then on an elevated structure to the Airport passing through Jessop, [[Jessore Road]], [[VIP Road]] and the domestic terminal road. This project was undertaken by the [[Kolkata Metro]].

The Jessore Road station has been closed since 7 January 2015. The Biman Bandar station has been closed since 30 September 2016. Currently this section is being converted into metro under [[Kolkata Metro Line 4]].<ref name="Services End"/>

==Proposed stations==
There was also a plan to build two more stations between [[Park Circus railway station|Park Circus]] and [[Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt railway station|Sir Gurudas Banerjee Halt]] named Tangra(Kamardanga Halt) and Beliaghata Main Road respectively, but it was ultimately cancelled. Although Tangra station construction was started under the name of Kamardanga Halt but it became unfinished, and now demolished.

== See also ==
* [[Transport in Kolkata]]
* [[Kolkata Suburban Railway]]
* [[Kolkata Metro]]
* [[Kolkata Tram]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kolkata topics}}
{{Kolkata Suburban Railway, Circular}}

[[Category:Kolkata Circular Railway| ]]
[[Category:Eastern Railway Zone|Eastern Railway Zone]]
[[Category:Kolkata Suburban Railway lines]]
[[Category:Sealdah railway division|Sealdah railway division]]
[[Category:Transport in Kolkata|Transport in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Kolkata Suburban Railway]]

Kolkata Circular Railway - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:03, 14 August 2023