Eastern Railway will start Kolkata’s first air-conditioned local on the Sealdah–Ranaghat route before Independence Day, completing the trip in about 101 minutes. Morning and evening runs will stop at Barrackpore, Kalyani, Naihati, and Dum Dum. The service boosts comfort during the holiday rush with cooler coaches and dependable timings. Launching ahead of August 15, it supports festive travel, eases crowding on regular rakes, and strengthens last-mile links across neighborhoods.