Travel schedules across Jharkhand, Odisha, and adjoining states face widespread adjustments as the Chakradharpur railway division undertakes major infrastructure work. Engineering teams are linking the newly laid fourth railway line to the main operational track between Bagdehi and Jharsuguda railway stations. The scheduled work involves comprehensive pre-non-interlocking, non-interlocking, and yard remodeling procedures across multiple phases. To safely facilitate these critical signaling and structural upgrades, railway authorities have cancelled 18 express and passenger services across varying dates and altered the path of two long-distance trains.
Connecting the Fourth Rail Line Between Bagdehi and Jharsuguda
The operational adjustments stem from infrastructure modernization planned between Bagdehi and Jharsuguda stations within the Chakradharpur division. Technical execution is scheduled in distinct stages between November 1 and November 3. Reconfiguring track lines and integrating updated signaling apparatus require track occupations that prevent normal train movements on this busy corridor. The comprehensive upgrade aims to improve route capacity and ease operational congestion along the busy trunk route once the fourth rail track becomes fully integrated with the main yard line.
Schedule of Cancelled Express and Passenger Services
Railway notifications outline the cancellation of specific train services across various dates as follows
- 18109/18110 Itwari-Tatanagar-Itwari Express: Cancelled in both directions from November 1 to November 3.
- 68029/68030 Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Rourkela MEMU: Cancelled in both directions from November 1 to November 3.
- 18125/18126 Rourkela-Puri-Rourkela Express: Cancelled in both directions on November 3.
- 18175 Hatia-Jharsuguda Express: Cancelled from November 1 to November 3.
- 18176 Jharsuguda-Hatia Express: Cancelled from November 2 to November 4.
- 22861 Howrah-Kantabanji Ispat Express: Cancelled on November 3.
- 22862 Kantabanji-Howrah Ispat Express: Cancelled on November 4.
- 18107 Rourkela-Jagdalpur Express: Cancelled on November 3.
- 18108 Jagdalpur-Rourkela Express: Cancelled on November 4.
- 13425 Malda Town-Surat Express: Cancelled on October 31.
- 13426 Surat-Malda Town Express: Cancelled on November 2.
- 17433 Tirupati-Raxaul Express: Cancelled on November 2.
- 17434 Raxaul-Tirupati Express: Cancelled on November 5.
- 22839/22840 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Express: Cancelled in both directions on November 3.
Route Diversions for Utkal Express
Alongside the full cancellations, railway authorities have diverted two major services. Train number 18477 Puri-Yog Nagari Rishikesh Utkal Express departing from Puri on November 2 will skip its conventional route via Cuttack-Bhadrak-Hijli-Tatanagar-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Ib. Instead, it will run along a diverted alignment covering Cuttack-Sambalpur City-Jharsuguda Road-Ib. Conversely, train number 18478 Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Puri Utkal Express leaving Yog Nagari Rishikesh on November 2 will bypass its regular path of Ib-Jharsuguda-Rourkela-Tatanagar-Hijli-Bhadrak-Cuttack, proceeding instead via Ib-Jharsuguda Road-Sambalpur City-Cuttack, bypassing key intermediate industrial hubs.
