A new passenger lounge and cafeteria has opened at Kalyani railway station, offering commuters free general waiting facilities, a paid executive lounge, a child-care room, food outlets and upgraded toilet amenities, according to a report by Bartaman Patrika – Kolkata.
The facility has been opened ahead of the Durga Puja season for residents of Kalyani and surrounding areas. It is intended for both train passengers and members of the public, and marks an expansion of passenger amenities at the station under the Sealdah division of the Indian Railways.
The first floor includes a general waiting room where passengers can sit while waiting for trains without paying an entry fee. The room has designated seating, steel chairs and LED lighting. The facility is designed to provide a more organised waiting environment within the station complex.
A separate executive lounge is also available for passengers who are willing to pay for access. The air-conditioned space includes recliner seating and chairs with premium cushions. The report did not specify the user charges or operating hours for the executive lounge.
The station lounge also includes a separate child-care room. The facility is intended to allow mothers travelling with infants to attend to their children in a private and clean space. This is among the passenger amenities being provided alongside the waiting areas and food services.
The second floor and open terrace area contain coffee outlets and restaurants operated by recognised brands, according to the report. The interiors have been described as modern, and the air-conditioned areas include food-service facilities. The lounge also has separate toilets, adding sanitation facilities to the passenger-use areas.
Fire-safety measures have been incorporated into the lounge and cafeteria, including fire-detection technology. The report did not provide details of the specific systems installed, the agencies responsible for certification or the capacity of the facility.
The new lounge changes the role of the station beyond its basic function as a boarding and alighting point. For passengers, the immediate distinction is between amenities available without charge, such as the general waiting room, and premium facilities that require payment. The availability of food outlets, toilets and child-care space is expected to be particularly relevant during periods of increased passenger movement.
Sealdah Divisional Railway Manager Rajiv Saxena said the Railways was committed to improving passenger comfort by changing the appearance and facilities of station premises. He described the Kalyani project as part of that effort and said it had been implemented to improve the station experience.
The report did not state the total cost of the project, the concessionaire or operators managing the branded outlets, or whether similar facilities are planned at other stations in the Sealdah division. Details on opening hours, executive-lounge tariffs and passenger capacity remain to be established.
