The East Central Railway (ECR) has issued an important travel advisory for passengers, announcing the cancellation, diversion, and short termination of several trains between September 20 and October 4 due to major infrastructure work near Mokama in Bihar.
The disruption is linked to the commissioning of a new railway bridge over the Ganga River, which has been constructed alongside the existing Rajendra Setu (Rajendra Bridge).
Why Are Trains Being Cancelled?
According to East Central Railway, construction of the new rail bridge has been completed. Before train operations can begin on the new bridge, the railway will carry out Pre-Non-Interlocking (Pre-NI) and Non-Interlocking (NI) work.
The project includes:
- Connecting the new bridge with the existing double railway line on Rajendra Setu.
- Linking the main line between Dinkar Gram Simaria and Barauni Junction.
- Testing and commissioning the new rail infrastructure safely.
The engineering work will continue from September 21 to October 4, affecting train services across several routes.
Number of Trains Cancelled Each Day
| Date | Trains Cancelled |
|---|---|
| September 20 | 6 |
| September 21 | 12 |
| September 22 | 13 |
| September 23 | 15 |
| September 24 | 21 |
| September 25 | 24 |
| September 26 | 29 |
| September 27 | 31 |
| September 28 | 21 |
| September 29 | 20 |
| September 30 | 25 |
| October 1 | 32 |
| October 2 | 32 |
| October 3 | 36 |
| October 4 | 21 |
In addition to the cancellations:
- 384 trains will be diverted via alternate routes.
- 56 trains will terminate before reaching their scheduled destinations.
- 67 trains will originate from stations other than their regular starting points.
Major Trains Affected
Several important trains are among those cancelled during the period, including:
- Howrah–Mokama Express
- Mokama–Howrah Express
- Howrah–Jaynagar Express
- Jaynagar–Howrah Express
- Kolkata–Ghazipur City Express
- Malda Town–Patna Express
- New Delhi–Malda Town Express
- Howrah–Raxaul Express
- Sealdah–Jaynagar Express
- Kolkata–Sitamarhi Express
- Saharsa–Rajendra Nagar Express
- Rajendra Nagar–Saharsa Express
- Bhagalpur–Muzaffarpur Express
- Muzaffarpur–Bhagalpur Express
- Puri–Patna Express
- Patna–Puri Express
- Ranchi–Gorakhpur Express
- Gorakhpur–Ranchi Express
- Bilaspur–Buxar Express
- Buxar–Bilaspur Express
- Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi–Asansol Special
- Veerangana Laxmibai Jhansi–Kolkata Express
- Multiple passenger services between Mokama, Kiul and Patna
The complete cancellation schedule varies by date, and passengers are advised to verify whether their specific train is affected.
Passengers Advised to Check Train Status
East Central Railway has urged passengers to check the latest running status of their trains before beginning their journey.
Passengers can:
- Check the latest train status on the NTES (National Train Enquiry System) portal.
- Call the Railway enquiry helpline 139 for real-time updates.
Travellers with bookings between September 20 and October 4 are strongly advised to confirm the operational status of their trains in advance to avoid inconvenience caused by the ongoing bridge connectivity work.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.