https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

From Rain to Resource: How Howrah Station’s Rainwater Harvesting is Shaping Sustainable Infrastructure

Howrah Station’s rainwater harvesting system conserves water, boosts groundwater levels, reduces freshwater use, and offers significant economic benefits.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Unchecked groundwater extraction and the consequent drop in groundwater levels will inevitably lead to severe water shortages in the future. To address this issue, rainwater conservation emerges as a vital solution. This is why rainwater harvesting campaigns are frequently promoted. In this regard, Eastern Railway has made significant strides by implementing a groundbreaking rainwater harvesting system at Howrah Railway Station in Kolkata, West Bengal.  

This system conserves millions of liters of water, repurposing it for various needs, including train washing. Impressively, it will capture and recharge 7.3 million liters of rainwater into the groundwater table each year. The station collects and reuses around 97,524.5 cubic meters of rainwater annually through this advanced system.

To gain deeper insights into this impressive initiative, Indian Masterminds spoke with Mr. Kaushik Mitra, the CPRO of Eastern Railway and an IRTS officer from the 2012 batch.

HOW THE SYSTEM SAVING WATER

The rainwater harvesting system at Howrah Railway Station is setting a new benchmark in sustainability. With over 90 percent of the station area covered by sheds and roofs, the system maximizes water capture, benefiting from the region’s annual rainfall of 164.95 mm.

The station boasts a total roof area of 78,831.6 square meters, and the surrounding area’s annual rainfall amounts to 97,524.54 cubic meters. Of this, 90,224,540 liters of runoff rainwater are directed to a settlement tank at the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP).

Reusing this significant volume of rainwater plays a crucial role in water conservation. Each year, 7.3 million liters of rainwater are repurposed for various uses at the station.

The engineering department has overseen this initiative and contributed innovative ideas. A damaged PVC tank was repurposed into a recharge pit, constructed in front of platform number 23. This pit, filled with stones and sand, naturally collects and allows rainwater to replenish the groundwater.

Utilizing the station’s extensive roof area, the system effectively captures and manages rainwater.

“Eastern Railway plans to replicate this successful model at other major railway stations,” Mr. Mitra shared.

RESUING THE WATER

The station successfully recharges approximately 7,300,000 liters of rainwater into the groundwater each year, averaging 20,000 liters per day over 365 days.

The advanced system captures and reuses around 97,524.5 cubic meters of rainwater annually.

Initially, the rainwater is purified at the station’s ETP. Once treated, the water is repurposed for cleaning the platform and station surfaces. “This process has significantly reduced the station’s reliance on freshwater for cleaning and washing, further contributing to sustainable water management,” Mitra added.

BENEFITS

The rainwater harvesting system at Howrah Railway Station offers several key benefits, ranging from environmental protection to economic savings.

Water Conservation: The station effectively collects and recycles a significant volume of rainwater throughout the year. This practice has reduced the station’s reliance on new water sources to nearly zero.

Environmental Protection: By using recycled water, the station minimizes water wastage and positively impacts the environment. The recharge of underground water from the recycled rainwater helps to increase groundwater levels, which will be valuable in addressing future water crises.

Economic Benefits: Utilizing recycled water in place of fresh water cuts down on water costs, making the system economically advantageous. This conservation effort translates to long-term financial savings.

In its commitment to sustainability, Howrah Station has set a remarkable example. Mr Mitra said, “The success of its rainwater harvesting system underscores the potential for innovative environmental practices in urban infrastructure, paving the way for other stations and facilities to adopt similar measures.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
Complaint
Complaint Filed Against Senior IPS Officer for Sending Inappropriate Messages
Jammu and Kashmir Government
Three IAS Officers Assigned New Postings in J&K; Check Names Here
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services
Senior IAS Officer Rajendra Ratnoo Opts for Voluntary Retirement
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Puducherry
Scientific, Strategic, and Sustainable: How Dr Arulrajan is Transforming Puducherry’s Ecology
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Set to Promote Two IPS Officers to Director General of Police
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT