Jamshedpur: Facing mounting public pressure over persistent train delays, the Railway administration has escalated enforcement and infrastructure initiatives throughout the Chakradharpur Railway Division, vowing to achieve noticeable improvements in punctuality soon.
Senior officials met with MLA Saryu Roy at the demonstration site on Tuesday and acknowledged that delays have significantly inconvenienced passengers, especially at Tatanagar Railway Station, a vital junction with heavy traffic. They assured that the administration is acutely aware of passenger complaints and is actively working to restore normalcy.
Railway authorities mentioned that staff at all levels are engaged in continuous operations to manage train movements effectively. However, they indicated that ongoing infrastructure expansion and technical limitations are temporarily impacting punctuality. These issues, officials stated, are being prioritized for resolution with long-term solutions in mind.
Round-the-clock surveillance to check delays
In a significant operational shift, the Railways has implemented 24/7 monitoring of passenger train movements across the division. This real-time surveillance facilitates quicker identification of bottlenecks and faster decision-making, contributing to a gradual reduction in delays.
Infrastructure limitations at Tatanagar
A primary bottleneck remains the limited infrastructure at Tatanagar station. Currently, the station operates with restricted platform capacity—two platforms towards the Kharagpur side and three towards the Adityapur side—resulting in considerable operational strain.
Recent Non-Interlocking works at Santragachi and Adityapur have enabled third-line connectivity from Asanboni to Salgajuri, providing partial relief. Similar projects are planned at Tatanagar, after which the third line will extend to Jharsuguda, significantly alleviating congestion.
Expansion plans to ease congestion
To tackle long-term capacity challenges, the Railways is expanding loop lines at key stations, including Birajpur, Sini, Kandra, Haldipokhar, and Biribans. These enhancements will allow smoother train crossings and overtaking, thereby reducing unscheduled halts.
An additional platform has also been proposed at Tatanagar station. Once completed, it is expected to eliminate frequent unscheduled stoppages currently occurring at stations like Gamharia, Adityapur, and Kandra due to platform shortages.
Dedicated freight corridor to bring long-term relief
A major structural reform in the works is the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), spanning nearly 1,868 km from Dankuni to Surat and traversing the division. Once operational, freight trains will utilize dedicated tracks, freeing up existing lines exclusively for passenger services. Officials anticipate this will significantly decrease delays and transform rail operations in the region.
New trains added amid rising demand
In response to increasing passenger demand, 24 new coaching trains have been introduced in the Tatanagar section over the past three years, enhancing connectivity to key destinations. Railway officials stated that these additions demonstrate a commitment to improving passenger convenience alongside infrastructure enhancements.
Improvement expected, but delays persist for now
While authorities express confidence that ongoing projects will yield long-term benefits, passengers continue to experience delays in the short term. Officials have urged commuters to be patient, assuring that intensified monitoring, infrastructure expansion, and forthcoming mega projects will soon lead to smoother and more reliable train services across the South Eastern Railway network.
