Eastern Railway’s Malda Division has started the construction of a modern 12-meter wide foot overbridge (FOB) at Sultanganj station. To facilitate the girder launching work, mega blocks were implemented on the Jamalpur-Bhagalpur rail section during the nights of May 8th to 10th, 2026. This project aims to handle the heavy passenger rush, especially before the Shravani Mela.
Which trains were affected by the mega block?
The construction work led to the complete cancellation of the 73436/73435 Jamalpur-Bhagalpur-Jamalpur DEMU passenger train on both scheduled nights. Several other long-distance trains were rescheduled to ensure safety during the girder installation.
| Train Name/Number | Impact/Delay |
|---|---|
| Jamalpur-Bhagalpur-Jamalpur DEMU (73436/73435) | Cancelled |
| Howrah-Jaynagar Express (13031) | Delayed by 180 minutes |
| Balurghat-Bathinda Farakka Express (15743/15733) | Rescheduled by 120 minutes |
| Malda Town-Patna Express (3415) | Rescheduled |
What are the key details of the new FOB project?
DRM Manish Kumar Gupta stated that the wider FOB is necessary for managing increasing crowds. The construction agency, supervised by Pankaj Kumar from the Gati Shakti Unit, is installing 22 girders. Work on tie beam fixing is currently in progress to ensure the structure meets safety and quality standards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why was the mega block implemented at Sultanganj?
The block was needed for the girder launching of a new 12-meter wide foot overbridge to ensure safety and manage passenger crowds.
When will the new foot overbridge be ready?
Railway officials are working to complete the FOB project before the Shravani Mela to ease movement for pilgrims and passengers.