Train services disrupted on Kharagpur line for days, over 200 trains canceled amid Santragachi renovation

Train services on the Kharagpur line remained disrupted on Wednesday due to ongoing renovation work at Santragachi railway yard. Since April 30, more than 200 trains have been canceled as the work focuses on railway lines near platforms four and five at Santragachi station. Key trains such as Howrah-Digha, Digha-Howrah, and Purulia Express were canceled on Wednesday, and timings of several long-distance trains were also changed.

Passengers have experienced significant delays and inconvenience. For example, Seema Mallik from Radhabazar, Nadia, who was traveling to Chennai for medical treatment, was stranded at Howrah station overnight after her train scheduled at 11:45 PM on Tuesday did not depart until Wednesday afternoon. She said, "I have a doctor's appointment on Thursday morning. I do not know whether that will be possible or not." Her husband, Gaurav Mallik, expressed frustration over the situation and South Eastern Railway’s management.

The renovation is part of a plan to develop Santragachi as an important terminal station for the South Eastern Railway. The work involves extensive upgrades to the railway yard infrastructure to improve long-term operational capacity. Due to this, train cancellations and schedule changes have been significant since the project began, affecting many passengers traveling through this route.

South Eastern Railway officials have acknowledged the disruption but stated that efforts are underway to resolve the issues quickly. Om Prakash Charan, Chief Public Relations Officer of South Eastern Railway, said, "There is a problem. Efforts are being made to resolve it quickly. But compared to before, the situation has become much more normal." Passengers are advised to check updated train schedules before traveling.