Rail Traffic Affected on Howrah-Chennai Route as Baleshwar Yard Upgrade Begins

Bhubaneswar: Railway passengers travelling on the Howrah-Chennai main line should prepare for temporary changes in train operations as South Eastern Railway undertakes major yard remodelling work at Baleshwar station under the Kharagpur Division. The work is part of the ongoing Narayangarh-Bhadrak third line project and will remain in progress from July 29 to August 11.

As part of the traffic regulation, the Bhubaneswar-Baleshwar MEMU (68408) will run only up to Bhadrak, while the Baleshwar-Bhubaneswar MEMU (68407) will originate from Bhadrak instead of Baleshwar during the same period. As a result, both MEMU services will operate exclusively between Bhubaneswar and Bhadrak until the completion of the works.

Several long-distance trains have also been diverted on selected dates. The Anand Vihar Terminal-Puri Neelachal Express (12876), departing on July 28 and August 2, 4 and 7, will operate via Chandil Junction, Kandra, Sini, Rajkharsawan, Nayagarh and Jakhapura, bypassing its usual route through Tatanagar, Hijli, Balasore and Bhadrak.

The New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (22824), leaving on July 28 and August 4 and 5, will also follow the same diverted alignment.

Similarly, the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (22811), scheduled to depart on July 29 and August 2, 5 and 9, will travel through Jakhapura, Nayagarh, Rajkharsawan, Sini, Kandra, Purulia, Rukni, Bhojudih and NSC Bose J Gomoh, instead of its regular route via Bhadrak, Balasore, Hijli, Midnapore and Adra.

Another Rajdhani service, Train No. 22823, departing Bhubaneswar on August 3, 4 and 7, will be diverted through Jakhapura, Nayagarh, Rajkharsawan, Sini, Kandra and Chandil Junction, avoiding Bhadrak, Balasore, Hijli and Tatanagar.

The Anand Vihar Terminal-Puri Nandan Kanan Express (12816), commencing its journey on August 3, will also run on a revised route via NSC Bose J Gomoh, Bhojudih, Rukni, Purulia, Kandra, Sini, Rajkharsawan, Nayagarh and Jakhapura in place of its normal alignment through Adra, Midnapore, Hijli, Balasore and Bhadrak.

In addition to diversions, the Railways has announced temporary changes in departure timings for several trains. The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (22823) will leave one hour later than scheduled on July 30 and 31, while the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (22824) will depart one hour late on August 1.

The Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (22811) will be rescheduled by one hour and 30 minutes on August 2, and its return service, Train No. 22812, will depart from New Delhi 90 minutes behind schedule on August 7.

Meanwhile, the Puri-Anand Vihar Terminal Nandan Kanan Express (12815) will also leave one hour later than its scheduled departure on August 3, 5 and 6.

Railway authorities have appealed to passengers to check the latest train schedules and running status through the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or the official Indian Railways portal before starting their journey to avoid inconvenience.