Bareilly: Bilpur Railway Crossing Closure Extended by 7 Days
Commuters in the Bareilly region are facing significant travel hurdles as the closure of the Bilpur railway crossing (number 344-C) has been extended for another week. Originally scheduled to reopen on October 19, 2026, the crossing located on the Fatehganj Purvi-Dataganj road will now remain inaccessible until October 27, 2026.
Delays in Essential Track Repairs
The shutdown was initially planned to facilitate critical track replacement and sleeper repair work. Rail Path Inspector Mohammad Zaid Raza had previously announced the original seven-day window for these essential maintenance tasks. However, due to unfinished construction work, the timeline has been pushed back, leaving many travelers stranded.
Assistant Division Engineer Bhaskar Bhattacharya had earlier requested additional time to resolve the situation, particularly following protests from local villagers who were distressed by the ongoing disruption. Railway authorities maintain that the infrastructure work is still very much ongoing.
Commuters Struggle with Poor Detours
The extension has left a wide range of travelers, including schoolchildren, patients, and local residents, in a difficult position. Those traveling between Dataganj, Badaun, Bulandshahr, Kanpur, Garhia Rangin, and surrounding villages are now forced to navigate much longer and more difficult paths.
The detour currently forces motorists to use the Nibadiya-Bilpur road, which has become a major source of frustration due to its poor condition. Commuters are facing several challenges:
- Increased Travel Distance: Motorists must navigate detours that add approximately five kilometers to their journey.
- Hazardous Road Conditions: The alternative route is currently plagued by severe waterlogging and deep potholes.
- Extreme Detours: During previous closure phases, some residents reported being forced to travel up to 15 kilometers extra just to reach the Gausganj railway crossing.
Local shopkeepers and the general public continue to demand a swift resolution to the maintenance work to ease the burden on daily commuters.