Overview
Belur railway station is a railway station serving the town of Belur in the Howrah district of West Bengal, India. It lies on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line of the Eastern Railway zone of Indian Railways and primarily caters to suburban commuters of the Kolkata metropolitan region.
Key facts
| Name | Belur railway station |
|---|---|
| Location | Belur, Howrah district, West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Line | Howrah–Bardhaman main line |
| Operator | Eastern Railway, Indian Railways |
| Type | Suburban railway station |
Background
Belur is a town on the western bank of the Hooghly River, immediately north of Howrah. It is best known as the seat of the Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1898. The station provides one of the principal rail approaches to the town and its surrounding industrial and residential neighbourhoods.
The Howrah–Bardhaman main line, on which Belur is situated, is among the oldest railway corridors in India. It traces its origins to the line opened by the East Indian Railway Company in 1854 between Howrah and Hooghly, which was subsequently extended to Bardhaman and beyond. Belur, being a short distance from Howrah, became part of the dense suburban network that developed along this corridor.
Layout and services
The station handles electric multiple unit (EMU) local services operated by the Howrah suburban railway system. Trains from Belur typically connect with Howrah Junction to the south and continue northward towards Bally, Uttarpara, Serampore, Chandannagar, Bandel and Bardhaman. The line is electrified and double-tracked, supporting a high frequency of suburban services.
Belur lies close to the junction at Bally, where the chord line branches towards Sealdah via Dankuni, providing onward connectivity to the eastern parts of Kolkata.
Significance
The station is significant for pilgrims and visitors travelling to Belur Math, as well as for daily commuters from the industrial belt along the Hooghly. The neighbourhood around Belur has historically housed jute mills, engineering works and other manufacturing units, many of whose workforce has relied on the suburban rail network for transit.
Related topics
- Howrah–Bardhaman main line
- Eastern Railway zone
- Kolkata Suburban Railway
- Belur Math
- Howrah district
- Indian Railways
References
- Wikidata: Q19882285
- Indian Railways, Eastern Railway zone — official timetables and station information.