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
bureaucracy news
Major Bureaucratic Reforms on the Anvil as Centre Hires Consultant to Map Bottlenecks & Draft Roadmap - Details Inside
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on ₹8,585 Cr Bank Loans from Seven PSU Banks; Debt Soars to ₹34,484 Cr
HSL CMD Khatri
Upskill to Stay Ahead: HSL CMD Cmde Khatri’s Call to Maritime Sector at BIMSTEC 2025
IPS A.B
HC Clears Former Top Cop: Andhra Ends All Legal Action Against IPS Venkateswara Rao
Minister Sonowal
Hydrogen Tug Project Gets Boost as Minister Sonowal Backs Hindustan Shipyard (HSL)’s Vision - Details Inside
IOCL and SJVN
PESB Invites Applications for Director Posts in IOCL and SJVN; Deadlines Set for August 11
IREDA logo 1
IREDA Seeks Shareholder Nod to Raise Borrowing Limit to ₹1.5 Lakh Crore; Pushes for Massive RE Financing
Indian Police Services IPS Officer
Punjab Promotes 8 IPS Officers to DGP Rank, Now Has Nation’s Highest Number of Top-Rank Police Officers
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
The Secret of The Secret – How To Make The Universe Conspire For You
AI 171 CRASH
AAIB Initial Probe In AI-171 Crash Questioned By Aviation Experts
Ravi Kapoor
Why Ex-IRS Officer Ravi Kapoor Walked Away from Power
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-14 at 15.58
The Economist Who Became an IFS Officer
How Abhimanyu Gahlaut balanced global economics and civil services dreams to crack UPSC with AIR 38
Disha Dwivedi UPSC
How Disha Dwivedi Conquered UPSC on Her Sixth Attempt
Disha Dwivedi’s UPSC journey from five prelims failures to securing AIR 672 in 2024 showcases strategic...
Sushmitha and Ishwarya Ramanathan
Their Home Was Washed Away — Sushmitha & Ishwarya Built a Legacy Instead
Sushmitha and Ishwarya lost their home to the 2004 tsunami. But with books, belief, and each other, they...
Social Media
Standing Leopard
Leopard Stuns Internet by Standing on Two Legs Like a Meerkat
A rare video of a leopard standing on two legs in Kruger Park stuns viewers and goes viral across social...
G S Roshni
Kerala’s Fearless Forest Officer G.S. Roshni Rescues 16-Foot King Cobra with Bare Hands, Garners Praise & Critique
Beat Forest Officer G.S. Roshni’s first-ever king cobra rescue goes viral, earning her the title of ‘Green...
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
bureaucracy news
Major Bureaucratic Reforms on the Anvil as Centre Hires Consultant to Map Bottlenecks & Draft Roadmap - Details Inside
MTNL
MTNL Defaults on ₹8,585 Cr Bank Loans from Seven PSU Banks; Debt Soars to ₹34,484 Cr
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
promila gupta
AI 171 CRASH
Ravi Kapoor
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT