Kalyani station has opened a new passenger lounge and cafeteria ahead of Durga Puja, bringing a free general waiting room, a paid executive lounge, a child-care room, toilets and branded food outlets to one of the railway stations serving Kalyani and surrounding areas. The facility was opened for railway passengers as well as members of the public, according to a report by Bartaman Patrika.
The first-floor general waiting room has dedicated seating for passengers waiting for trains. The room is fitted with LED lighting and steel chairs, and passengers can use it without paying a fee. The facility is intended to provide a more comfortable waiting environment within the station premises, particularly for passengers who need to spend time at the station before their trains arrive.
A separate executive lounge is available on a paid basis. It has air conditioning, recliners and premium cushioned chairs for passengers seeking a higher level of comfort while waiting. The report does not specify the charges for using the executive lounge.
The station complex also includes a separate child-care room. According to the report, the clean and transparent room is designed to allow mothers travelling with infants to attend to their children in privacy and comfort. The inclusion of a dedicated child-care facility expands the range of passenger services beyond basic waiting and ticketing areas.
Food and beverage facilities have been arranged across the second floor and the open-roof section of the complex. The report said the cafeteria includes familiar coffee chains and restaurants operated by several established brands. The interiors have been redesigned, and the air-conditioned area uses what the report described as environmentally friendly food-service arrangements.
Separate toilets have also been provided within the facility. Fire-safety provisions have been incorporated throughout the lounge and cafeteria, including fire-detection technology, according to the report. These measures are intended to address safety in a space that combines passenger waiting areas, restaurants and commercial activity.
Rajib Saxena, divisional railway manager of the Sealdah Division, said the railway was committed to improving passenger comfort by changing the character of station premises. He described the new facility at Kalyani station as part of that effort. The report did not provide further details on the project’s cost, operating agency, opening date beyond the pre-Durga Puja period, or the executive lounge’s user charges.
