Start of Scheduled Electrified Service on the Indian Railways’ Howrah–Kharagpur Corridor

The Howrah–Kharagpur corridor, one of the most important trunk routes in eastern India, became fully electrified for scheduled operations on December 21, 1963. This segment, part of the South Eastern Railway zone, carried substantial passenger and freight traffic linking Kolkata with the industrial centers of Odisha and beyond. Electrification formed part of India’s ambitious post-independence modernization strategy, aimed at reducing reliance on imported coal and improving service reliability. The new 25 kV AC overhead system enabled higher speeds, more frequent service, and more powerful freight locomotives. The successful completion of this corridor accelerated India’s move toward a largely electrified railway, which continues to expand into the 21st century.