Rail travel across Odisha and from northern India has been severely disrupted over the past few days, with premier services like the Vande Bharat Express and Tejas Rajdhani running significantly behind schedule. Railway authorities have attributed the widespread delays to a combination of dense fog in North India and crucial safety and modernization track work being carried out at multiple locations within Odisha.
Major Trains Running Hours Behind Schedule
The impact has been stark on several key routes. On Monday, the Rishikesh-Puri Kalinga Utkal Express commenced its journey at 10.20 AM, a staggering delay of nearly five hours from its scheduled 5.35 AM departure. Similarly, the Hatia-Puri Tapaswini Express arrived at Bhubaneswar at 7.26 AM instead of 4.45 AM. The Anand Vihar Terminal (New Delhi)-Puri Neelanchal Express reached Bhubaneswar 1 hour and 33 minutes late at 5.43 PM, while the Anand Vihar Terminal-Puri Express was running over three hours behind in the evening.
The delays have not spared India's flagship train services. A day earlier, on Sunday, the Rourkela-Puri Vande Bharat Express reached Bhubaneswar 47 minutes late. The New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Tejas Rajdhani was delayed by two hours and fifteen minutes upon reaching Sambalpur City, and arrived in Bhubaneswar an hour behind its scheduled time.
Passenger Woes and Official Explanation
The cascading effect has left passengers stranded and frustrated. Bisikesan Pal, a passenger from Sambalpur district, shared his ordeal: "If premium trains like Vande Bharat and Tejas Rajdhani get delayed, what can we expect from other express, intercity and local trains? I reached Sambalpur at 5.10 PM instead of 2.55 PM on Monday and missed the bus to my village." The inconvenience has forced some, like Ganjam resident Mohan Sahu, to cancel their travel plans altogether and postpone trips.
An official spokesperson for the East Coast Railway confirmed the dual causes for the disruption on Monday. "Trains run at a slow speed because of dense fog. Loco pilots follow several precautions while piloting trains amid dense fog conditions," the spokesperson stated. He added that within Odisha, delays are also occurring due to ongoing safety and modernization work in various railway sections, including the critical stretch between Angul and Nergundi.
Widespread Impact on Local and South-Bound Services
The disruption has extended beyond long-distance trains. Over Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, numerous south-bound and local trains were also running late. The departure timing of trains like the Santragachi-Tambaram Antyodaya Express was officially rescheduled. The Rourkela-Bhubaneswar Intercity train was delayed by three hours on Monday. Reports indicate that most trains were running over an hour late throughout Sunday and Monday, compounding travel chaos for daily commuters and long-distance travelers alike.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of rail networks to seasonal weather and essential infrastructure upgrades. While safety remains the paramount concern for railways, the compounded effect of fog and track work has created a significant challenge for passenger mobility in the region during this period.
