New Hathidah Ganga Bridge: CRS Begins Final Safety Inspection
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for the Eastern Circle, Kolkata, Guru Prakash, has officially commenced a critical two-day safety inspection of the newly constructed double-lane railway bridge over the Ganga at Hathidah. Starting on October 3, 2026, this inspection is the final prerequisite required to authorize train operations on this massive 1.9-km infrastructure project.
Massive Investment and Technical Upgrades
The project, executed by Afcons Infrastructure Limited, represents a significant investment of approximately ₹1,491.47 crore. The inspection covers the doubling and electrification of the main bridge line between Rajendra Pul and Hathidah, extending to the new viaduct at the Howrah end between Hathidah and Rampur Dumra.
To ensure seamless integration with the existing rail network, the East Central Railway (ECR) Danapur Division has successfully commissioned several key technical systems:
- Electronic Interlocking (EI): Successfully implemented at Tal, Hathidah, and Rampur Dumra stations.
- Automatic Signaling: Installed across the 13-km Mokama-Rampur Dumra section.
- Level Crossing Interlocking: Two major works completed to enhance operational safety.
Pre-non-interlocking (NI) operations, which began on September 21, 2026, are scheduled to conclude by October 4, 202