Kolkata is the third largest metropolitan in South Asia, and the 13th largest urban agglomeration in the entire world. And thankfully, the city has always topped the charts (in India, at least) when it comes to public transport facilities. Indeed, there's the Kolkata Metro, the famous Ground Rail Transit or Tramway (whatever you call it), a growing fleet of public buses and of course those hand-rickshaws that, instead of being eliminated gradually in favour of bringing in more humanitarian solutions, are being celebrated as the unofficial mascots of the city sometimes...
Of course, I'm being critical of the city, and for good reasons. More than 15 million people live here, and we're supposed to turn to better and more efficient solutions, yet the lethargy of the State Government, paired with negligence from the centre, has done much to ruin the transit systems here.
The transit system of Kolkata needs a major overhaul, with the introduction of new metro lines (E-W will finally get completed, thank the High Court for that!), sophistication of the existing Tram transit and its gradual development into the LRTS (Light Rail Transit System) that we all have been waiting for, the Kolkata Monorail and so on. But even now, there's ample transit options that you can avail, thanks to old-but-still-functioning systems like the KCR.
What's this thing called Kolkata Circular Railway?
Well, for non-Calcuttans (and some Calcuttans, even!) an intro is needed. Basically, it's self-explanatory, it's a railway line that circumscribes the whole city of Kolkata, starting from Dum Dum Junction in the north, passing through the western stations like Eden Gardens, Princep Ghat and Majherhat etc, turning back east through Tollygangue and finally heading back to Dum Dum Jn. thorough Bidhannagar (Salt Lake City).
The adjoining map shows the merit of the network, thanks to its versatile reach. And when you pair it with the Kolkata Metro, things get even better. But while the network is impeccable, the entire system is falling apart because of one principal reason - negligence.
Smart Transit, a term I found myself coining a couple of days back, is what I use to refer to the practice of using Android apps such as Google Maps and those nifty Wheelz apps for navigating any region. And when I first started using Google Maps a bit more seriously (other than just wowing my friends), I immediately saw that the KCR is more than a relic of old ages.
At least, till the metro network of 6 lines is completed or the E-W metro gets running, we can avail the efficient transportation provided by the circular railway.
The Circular Railway Network
Down below we have the complete network of the KCR. This should be self-explanatory, but only to those of us who're pretty familiar with the city. As for everyone else, Google Maps lists all the trains on this network, so be sure to use it.
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| The Kolkata Circular Railway network, with Line 1 (N-S) of Kolkata Metro and Line 2 (E-W, under construction) displayed. (Credits: UrbanRail.Net) |
Most important stations on this network, in my opinion at least, are the following:
1. Dum Dum Jn: Certainly the busiest of the Kolkata metro stations, here we find the intersection between the two networks. Dum Dum also acts as the gateway to Kolkata, and connects the KSR (Kolkata Suburban Railway) network to Sealdah. Therefore, it's quite possibly the most important station out there.
In addition, the space in front of the Dum Dum metro station houses a busy bus stop. You can get all types of non-rail transit options here, including the autorickshaws, buses, taxis etc.
2. Bag Bazar: This station is important because of two important reasons. It's quite close to the Shyambazar 5 point terminus, which is one of the most important transit points in Kolkata. Besides, it's also near the Bag Bazar tram depot, from where you can avail Kolkata's famous tram network.
3. Eden Garden: Situated just adjacent to Babughat bus terminus. You can get buses to all parts of Kolkata (and beyond) from here. Long distance buses, to Puri, Digha, Deoghar etc. are also available here. Basically, the Babughat bus terminus, circling a beautifully crafted statue of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (one of India's two national writers), is one of the most important transit hubs in West Kolkata.
4. Tollygangue: The initial of the Kolkata metro was from Dum Dum in the north to Tollygangue in the south, interconnecting the two extremities of the metropolis, and serving as a faster alternative transit option intersecting the KCR. Well, thankfully the metro has extended beyond Tollygangue today, covering an additional 10 km to the south, but the importace of Tollygangue hasn't reduced. Other than Dum Dum, this is the only station where you can switch between the circular rail and the metro, at Rabindra Sarovar station close to KCR's Tollygangue halt.
Now, it's important to remember that the KCR bypasses the Sealdah station, through the Gurudas Banerjee halt, and reaches Dum Dum once again.
Also, do note that the KCR network has now been extended from Dum Dum Jn. to Dum Dum Airport, which is a 3.8 KM stretch as Wikipedia mentions. Additional stations that have been added to the network are:
1. Dum Dum Cantonment (situated close to Nagerbazar and Gorabazar, in central Dum Dum)
2. Jessore Road (North Dum Dum)
3. Biman Bandar (near the Kolkata International Airport)
Other reasons to board the train: reliving and relishing old Kolkata
Great view of the Ganges: Together with the decent transit system that KCR contributes to, the network has a unique charm of its own. If you intend to get a gorgeous view of the Ganga from a moving locomotive, the Circular Rail is your tool of trade.
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| The Princep Memorial |
Tourism: If you intend to take a leisurely trip through some of the beautiful and green areas Kolkata has to offer, the circular rail is the best option. It runs along the Renovated Ganga Riverfront, an undertaking by the State Government, which is the second of its kind in India (after the Sabarmati riverfront in Gujarat).
The train also moves parallel to the Millenium Parks of Kolkata, which are spectacular places to visit.
The Princep Ghat is another great destination, for locals and tourists alike. The famous James Princep Memorial is situated adjacent to the Princep Ghat station, and the riverfront is just beyond exquisite here. In addition, you get a spectacular view of the Vidyasagar Setu. Sunsets are especially beautiful here, and ferry rides are available.
Charms of old Kolkata: After reaching Bag Bazar, the network runs along the eastern bank of the Ganga, traversing through some of the oldest areas in Kolkata. Be ready to take out your camera as soon as the train reaches the bank of the Ganga.
Bathing in the Ganges: In addition, Kolkata's ghats are situated just along the network, so if you intend to enjoy the river from close, or feel religious and decide to cleanse your sins by touching it/bathing, this is the network to avail.
Problems with the network
Now, there are some obvious problems with the network, most of which emerge from lack of planning, overcrowding and negligence on the part of the government. I highlight some of them here, which are especially serious:
1. Slow speed: The trains move very slowly, and sometimes come to a total halt all of a sudden, for a crossing. These times are just horrible. One of the primary reasons behind this is, the areas on the two sides of the line are densely populated, housing many dirty slums. Indeed, the northwestern portion of the network can show you some horrible nightmares - extreme poverty, unclean housing and overpopulation (especially from neighbouring states like Bihar and Jharkhand) being some of them.
2. Lack of maintenance: Yeah, both the central and the state governments are totally unconcerned, and I may add Cynical, concerning the development of this network. The trains are modern (10-years old, but that's modern in Indian standards) though, but the tracks are practically crying for some maintenance. Usually there's no danger involved, because the train moves really slowly in these regions, but it's disheartening to see weeds growing out of the railtracks, right?
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| Dum Dum Cantonment station, North Kolkata |
I have some solutions in mind, but let's leave that to the experts.
Final words
With proper attention and some immediate investment, the KCR can become an immensely powerful means of transportation in the City of Joy. Coupled with the greater Kolkata Suburban Railway and the Metro network (even more after the E-W corridore is completed), the old KCR network can be turned into a non-metro MRTS solution, that can relieve the city of much of its transport burden. By providing a fast, reliable and alternative route that circumscribes the entire city, KCR can also generate much revenue, while solving the problem of overcrowding at the same time.
Image Credits: UrbanRail.Net, Skyscrapper City, Wikimedia.
Let's hope for the best, of course.
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