Over 200 trains cancelled for 19 Days on Howrah-Kharagpur division | See list

Daily life is set to be severely disrupted for thousands of commuters as the South Eastern Railway announced the cancellation of 212 local and 27 express trains in the Howrah-Kharagpur division from April 30 to May 18. The cause: modernisation and non-interlocking work at the Santragachi railway station.

The decision, though declared necessary by railway officials, has triggered anxiety and frustration among daily passengers who rely heavily on these services for work and other essential travel. The maximum impact will be felt on May 17, when 58 local trains are set to be cancelled in one day alone.

The ripple effects of this overhaul extend beyond cancellations. Timings of 15 express trains will be rescheduled, and 24 trains will have their routes shortened. While the Railways has assured that alternative arrangements are being planned to ease passenger inconvenience, many commuters fear daily chaos.

Among the key long-distance services affected:

• Puri-Shalimar Express cancelled on May 4–7

• Ruposhi Bangla Express cancelled on May 5, 17, 18

• Puri-Howrah Shatabdi Express on May 11

• Howrah-Puri Express on May 11 and 17

• Digha-bound Expresses and Tamralipta Express on May 11 and 17–18

• Howrah-Bokaro Steel City Express, Udaipur-Shalimar Express, and others are also affected on select days

Interestingly, local train services will function normally between May 12 to 14, offering some temporary relief amid the extended disruption. However, commuters are still concerned about the lack of consistent transport over the rest of the period. While modernisation is essential for long-term efficiency and safety, the absence of timely communication, along with the sheer volume of cancellations, has left passengers scrambling for alternatives during the crucial summer travel window.