NFR redevelops Haldibari station under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Maligaon, July 8 (MExN): The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has completed the redevelopment of the historic Haldibari Railway Station in West Bengal under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), upgrading it into a modern passenger-friendly facility while retaining its regional heritage.

According to an NFR release, the redevelopment, completed in March 2026, included renovation of the station building and waiting halls, modernisation of toilets, construction of a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge, additional platform shelters, resurfacing of platforms with granite and Kota stone, installation of two lifts, and improvement of the circulating area with better drainage and parking facilities. 

The station façade has also been upgraded with landscaping and graffiti art.

The project also introduced several accessibility features, including ramps, tactile pathways, accessible toilets, improved signage and upgraded passenger information systems. Modern telecommunications and security infrastructure have also been installed to enhance passenger safety and operational efficiency.

NFR said the redevelopment has addressed long-standing issues such as congestion at the station entrance, inadequate parking, waterlogging and ageing infrastructure. Other improvements include a new entrance porch, expanded waiting areas, modular toilet facilities, better lighting and upgraded platform amenities.

The railway said the upgraded station is expected to improve passenger convenience, support regional economic growth, promote local products under the 'One Station One Product' initiative and further strengthen the historic India-Bangladesh rail corridor.

Originally commissioned in 1878, Haldibari is one of North Bengal's oldest railway stations and has long served as a key gateway between eastern and North-East India India, the NFR said.

The station regained strategic importance following the reopening of the Haldibari–Chilahati rail link between India and Bangladesh in 2020, boosting regional connectivity and cross-border trade, it added. 

NFR also informed that it is redeveloping 92 stations across its jurisdiction under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme as part of Indian Railways' nationwide programme to modernise 1,337 railway stations with improved passenger amenities, sustainable infrastructure and enhanced connectivity.