The Chakradharpur division of Indian Railways has once again been forced to cancel multiple passenger services, marking the fifth such disruption in less than three weeks. In a move impacting daily commuters, six trains have been cancelled from January 7 to January 9 across key sections in the Jharkhand-Odisha region.
Affected Trains and Routes
The cancellations span several important local routes. The affected services include the Tata-Barbil-Tata MEMU (68125/68126), the Chakradharpur-Tata-Kharagpur-Tata-CKP MEMU (68010/68009), and the Tata-Gua-Tata MEMU (68019/68020). Furthermore, the Tata-Rourkela-Tata MEMU (68043/68044), the Hatia-Jharsuguda-Hatia MEMU (18175/18176), and the Birmitrapur-Barsuan-Birmitrapur passenger (58151/58152) will also not run during this period.
These trains operate on the Rourkela-Chakradharpur, Rourkela-Jharsuguda, and Rourkela-Nuagaon sections, crucial links for local travel and connectivity.
Primary Reasons: Wildlife and Weather
According to senior divisional commercial manager Aditya Choudhary, the decision stems from a coordinated effort with forest departments. A joint team of railway security and forest officials from both Jharkhand and Odisha is currently stationed along the tracks to monitor train movement. The cancellations are a direct result of alerts issued by forest authorities.
"Unavoidable cancellations are being made to ensure minimum trouble to the commuters and wildlife," Choudhary stated, highlighting the priority given to safety in the semi-forested zones the routes traverse.
Adding to the challenge are the prevailing foggy conditions, which reduce visibility and pose additional operational risks on these sections. For trains that continue to operate, strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are being followed, with close monitoring and regulation in place.
A Pattern of Disruptions
This recent three-day cancellation is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern over the past month. The divisional railway has previously enacted similar measures on multiple occasions:
- Five passenger trains were cancelled on December 18 and 19.
- Four trains were affected on December 20 and 21.
- Eight trains faced cancellation from December 22 to 24.
- Six trains were cancelled from December 25 to 28.
This frequency underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the railways in balancing operational efficiency with environmental and safety concerns in this specific region. The repeated disruptions call attention to the need for long-term solutions that ensure both reliable commuter service and the protection of local wildlife habitats.
