New link line construction to disrupt train services across multiple states.
Commuters to face significant disruptions as the Railway cancels 13 pairs of trains, including the Steel Express, due to new link line construction.
JAMSHEDPUR – Passengers in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and neighboring states are bracing for major disruptions as the Railway has announced the cancellation of 13 pairs of trains, including the Steel Express, for nine days.
This measure is due to the construction of a new link line between Santragachhi and Sankrail stations in West Bengal, necessitating a line block from June 22 to July 1.
The line block will impact the operation of over 150 trains, affecting routes such as Jan Shatabdi, Ispat, Ranchi Intercity, Gyaneshwari, Udaipur, Mumbai, Sambalpur, Pune, Kamakhya, Titlagarh, Rourkela, Badam Pahar, and Porbandar, connecting Tatanagar with Howrah, Santragachhi, and Shalimar.
Railway officials have indicated that more than 250 trains will face disruptions during this period.
In addition to the cancellation of 32 pairs of long-distance trains on the Odisha and Bengal routes, the Railway has planned to run 11 trains on alternate routes, adjust the timings of eight trains, and reduce the operating distance of some services.
This line block is essential for connecting Santragachhi and Sankrail stations to Andul station, a critical infrastructural project.
The disruptions are expected to cause considerable inconvenience to passengers, with over 15,000 daily commuters in Tatanagar alone likely to be affected.
This includes passengers traveling between Tatanagar-Ranchi and Howrah-Rourkela, who frequently commute for work or other purposes.
Additionally, passengers from rural stations will lose connectivity with major railway hubs during the block period.
In conjunction with the line block in West Bengal, the Railway has also announced route changes for trains running between Tatanagar, Hatia, Jasidih, Dhanbad, and Patna, and destinations such as Ernakulam, Bengaluru, and Yeshwantpur Express due to a line block on the Vijayawada route.
From June 27 to July 28, these trains will be rerouted, affecting hundreds of passengers traveling to and from Tambaram, Alleppey, and Guwahati, as they will not operate between Nidadavolu, Bhimavaram, Gudiwada, and Vijayawada stations.
A railway spokesperson stated, "We request passengers to stay informed about the schedule changes and plan their travel to avoid inconveniences."
