Eastern Railway (ER) General Manager Gitika Pandey on Saturday, 8 August conducted a hands-on inspection of the Sealdah division — one of the busiest in Indian Railways — covering operational efficiency, safety protocols, and passenger amenities across key stations and the Sealdah–Kalyani corridor.

What the Inspection Covered

Pandey personally evaluated passenger amenities, security arrangements, and safety infrastructure at Sealdah station. She inspected the crew lobby and reviewed the booking management system for loco pilots and assistant loco pilots, a critical link in maintaining smooth train operations. She also engaged directly with passengers and frontline railway staff at both Sealdah and Kalyani stations.

A window-trailing inspection along the Sealdah–Kalyani section allowed her to assess track conditions, signalling integrity, and overall route safety at ground level — a method that gives railway officers a direct, unfiltered view of infrastructure quality.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme Progress at Kalyani

At Kalyani station, Pandey reviewed ongoing transformation works under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which includes foot overbridge construction, car parking expansion, updated station facades, and the development of passenger interaction zones, according to a senior ER official. These upgrades are part of a nationwide push to modernise mid-size railway stations.

Safety Push Since Taking Charge

Pandey assumed charge as ER General Manager on 1 August and has since set a clear operational tone. Within days, she addressed over 780 frontline staff from all four ER divisions via video-conferencing, discussing operational challenges and reinforcing a zero-tolerance approach to safety lapses.

She has also been closely monitoring train operations during the ongoing Shravani Mela, which draws millions of pilgrims to Deoghar and Tarakeswar — a period that places exceptional pressure on the Eastern Railway network.

What Officials Said

ER CPRO Shibram Majhi said, 'ER remains dedicated to modernising infrastructure while prioritising safety and passenger comfort. Regular inspections ensure high operational standards and prompt action on passenger feedback.'

The Sealdah division operates over 700 EMU locals and passenger trains daily, in addition to several mail and express services to North Bengal and North India, serving millions of commuters every day. With the Shravani Mela still under way and station redevelopment projects mid-execution, the timing of the inspection signals a deliberate effort to pre-empt operational gaps before they compound.