Sunday, September 28, 2008

Howrah Railway Station

In 1854 the British colonial government in India started building a rail link from Kolkata to the coalfields in Bardhaman district. (This was the second railway line constructed in India after the first one from Mumbai to Thaney in 1853). The line started from Howrah, then a small town at the west shore of the river Hooghly River.
At first it was a single line track and a station at Howrah was built for goods only. It was a small shed with a few warehouses beside it and a ticket counter. However traffic gradually increased and the station building was extended. Due to heavy increase of traffic a new station building was proposed in 1901.
The new station head house was designed by British engineer Halsey Ricardo. The new station was brought into service on 1 December 1905. This building is the current Howrah station building. The classic station has 23 platform tracks.

Click on image below to enlarge ....




Friday, September 26, 2008

Kolkata and its love-hate relationship with Rickshaws


The city of Kolkata has a love-hate relationship with its rickshaws. Are they a symbol of exploitation? Or just a handy way to get around? Hand-pulled rickshaws made their appearance in this former British capital over a century ago, and several thousand continue to ply the streets today.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Double Decker Bus of Calcutta

Overloaded Double Decker Bus from Kalighat to Shyambazar (~1945)


Another set of Double Decker bus (-1945)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Compare Sealdah Station on 1945 and 2008

An Old view of Sealdah Station (~1945)


Another Old view of Sealdah Station.....


The recent view of of Sealdah Station