Passengers travelling across the Eastern and South Eastern Railway zones faced significant disruptions on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as railway authorities implemented extensive mega corridor blocks. These maintenance works, spanning the Asansol, Adra, and Howrah divisions, are essential for safety inspections and long-term infrastructure upgrades. Travelers are advised to note the following impact on services:
- Full cancellation of Asansol–Adra–Asansol MEMU (68046/68045) and four other MEMU services in the Asansol Division (63505, 63508, 63298, 63546).
- Local service disruptions affecting the Howrah-Mecheda Local (38321) and Howrah-Panskura Local (38453).
- Partial cancellations for the Bardhaman-Jhajha MEMU (63509/63510) and Deoghar-Patna MEMU (63209).
- Diversion of 53 Mail/Express trains from Howrah to Santragachi and Shalimar stations due to ongoing work active until July 27, 2026.
Upgrading Infrastructure for Future Safety
The Indian Railways is currently executing a ₹432 crore project aimed at modernizing the Asansol Division. This critical initiative involves replacing outdated relay-based interlocking systems with state-of-the-art electronic interlocking technology across 27 stations and cabins. By transitioning to these advanced systems, the railway board aims to significantly reduce technical signalling failures and improve overall operational efficiency.
Passenger Advisory
While these mega blocks cause temporary inconvenience to daily commuters and long-distance travellers, officials emphasize that these structural improvements are vital for increasing line capacity and ensuring a safer rail network. The Ministry of Railways has requested passengers to bear with the temporary changes as the department works toward a more reliable infrastructure. Before heading to the station, passengers are strongly advised to verify their train status through the NTES app, the official IRCTC website, or by visiting the nearest station enquiry counter to avoid unnecessary travel hassles.