Kolkata Circular Railway also known as the "Chakra Rail" locally, is a railway loop line operated by the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways, encircling the entire city of Kolkata.
Expansion of Kolkata Circular Railway
The line of Kolkata Circular Railway begins and terminates at Biman Bandar station, with a total of 21 stations spread over the route`s 35 kilometres length. The 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.
Stations in Kolkata Circular Railway
Kolkata Circular Railway services are operated from Biman Bandar to Majerhat (via Burrabazar), and Majerhat to Biman Bandar (via Ballygunge), sharing the stations Dum Dum Junction and Dum Dum Cantonment both ways. The line operates a part of longer suburban services from Budge Budge, Canning, Barrackpur, and Hasnabad.
Kolkata Circular Railway and Kolkata Metro
Kolkata Circular Railway offers no direct interchange points with the Kolkata Metro as of 2015, though that will change once Line 3 is constructed via Majerhat.
Loop Line of Kolkata Circular Railway
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 3.7 km-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 is likely to be replaced by Line 4 of the Metro, which follows roughly the same route.
Extension of Kolkata Circular Railway
Kolkata Circular Railway has been extended from Dum Dum Cantonment to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. It is a 3.8 km extension from Dum Dum Cantonment station and includes two elevated stations Jessore Road and Biman Bandar. It runs at grade to U.K 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 January 7, 2015.
