A rail blockade near the Itarhi level crossing in Buxar, Bihar, caused significant disruption to train operations on the busy Delhi-Howrah section on Friday, August 7, 2026. The protest, organized by local Congress members and the Dalit-Atipichhada Swabhiman Sangharsh Morcha, halted rail movement for approximately 30 minutes, impacting several long-distance and passenger services.
- Protest location: Itarhi railway level crossing, Buxar.
- Impacted trains: 20802 New Delhi-Islampur Magadh Express, Brahmaputra Mail, and Patna-Buxar MEMU Passenger.
- Root cause: Closure of the level crossing following the failure of a new INR 26.40 crore railway overbridge.
- Resolution: Tracks cleared after police intervention and a promise to address the issue within one week.
The Infrastructure Crisis
The core of the unrest lies in the failure of a newly constructed railway overbridge (ROB) which cost the exchequer INR 26.40 crore. The bridge, intended to streamline traffic, became non-operational just 96 hours after its inauguration. With the old level crossing closed and the new ROB unusable, the local population—including students, farmers, and traders—has been forced to navigate lengthy detours, creating immense daily hardship.
Administration and Political Response
The blockade was brought to an end by the district administration and RPF officials, led by Sadar SDPO Gaurav Pandey and RPF Inspector Kundan Kumar. While several protesters, including Congress district president Pankaj Kumar Upadhyay, were detained, the administration managed to pacify the crowd with a firm assurance that a viable solution would be implemented within seven days.
This protest follows a previous attempt on July 18, where similar promises were made but remained unfulfilled. With local political figures like RJD MP Sudhakar Singh pledging to take the matter to Parliament, the pressure on the railway and district authorities is mounting. Demonstrators have issued a stern warning, stating that they are prepared to intensify their agitation if the level crossing is not reopened or a functional alternative is not provided immediately.