• Mou Mou
• 23 Jan, 2025

Eastern Railway has announced the cancellation of 30 local trains daily from January 23rd to January 26th due to major bridge maintenance work. Train movement on the Howrah to Bardhaman Main Line will remain suspended for approximately 100 hours, impacting both local commuters and long-distance travellers.

Major Bridge Repairs Cause Disruption

Eastern Railway is conducting essential repairs on the CCR Bridge between Ballyghat and Bally Halt stations under the Sealdah to Dankuni section. Additionally the Benaras Rail Bridge between Howrah and Liluah stations is being demolished to make way for a new structure.

To ensure smooth operations in the future signal upgrades and track expansions are also underway near Howrah station. This critical maintenance work has necessitated the suspension of numerous train services.

Traffic Changes on Bally Bridge

The maintenance has also led to changes in road traffic. Vehicles heading towards Bally Halt from Dakshineswar are being rerouted via Nivedita Setu while Kolkata-bound vehicles will continue to use one lane of Bally Bridge. However outbound traffic from Kolkata towards Delhi and Bombay Road will not be permitted on Bally Bridge. Toll charges for rerouted buses via Nivedita Setu have been waived during this period.

Train Services Affected

- 15 Howrah-bound Bandel locals.

- 11 Howrah-bound Seoraphuli locals.

- 2 Howrah-bound Belur Math locals.

- 2 Howrah-bound Srirampur locals.

- 15 Bandel-bound Howrah locals.

- 11 Seoraphuli-bound Howrah locals.

- 2 Belur Math-bound Howrah locals.

- 2 Srirampur-bound Howrah locals.

Additionally the Bandel to Howrah Matribhoomi Ladies Special train will also remain cancelled.

Alternative Arrangements for Commuters

To mitigate inconvenience Eastern Railway has arranged four pairs of special trains between Howrah and Bandel stations. Passengers can also use the Bandel to Howrah Matribhoomi Ladies Special during this period.

Quotes

Sanjeev Kumar, DRM of Howrah Division, stated, "The number of entry and exit tracks and signal points at Howrah station is being increased. For this we need to dismantle the 120 year old Benaras Road Bridge and the 91 year old Chandmari Bridge near Howrah Maidan."

Read More: A Train Tragedy Happened in Maharashtra...! Panic Over Fire Leads to Fatal Accident.

Impact Analysis

The maintenance work will bring temporary inconvenience to commuters especially office-goers and daily travellers. However it is a step toward modernizing railway infrastructure, ensuring better connectivity and smoother operations in the long run.

Passengers are advised to plan their journeys accordingly and stay updated on train schedules during this period. While the temporary disruption may cause inconvenience these upgrades are vital for ensuring safer and more efficient rail services in the future.