Buxar Itadhi railway level crossing reopens after public agitation and protests
The historic railway level crossing located on Itadhi Road in Buxar has finally been reopened for public movement on Friday following a long wait, intense agitations, and mounting public pressure. The reopening of level crossing gate number 70B brought immense joy and relief to commuters traveling from Buxar towards the Itadhi-Dinara region, ending nearly three months of severe inconvenience for school children, patients, farmers, business owners, and daily travelers who were previously forced to take long detours. Indian Railways administration had permanently closed this gate on 30 May 2026, providing a newly constructed Road Overbridge (ROB) built at a cost of approximately 26.40 crore rupees as an alternative. However, shortly after its inauguration, technical issues emerged in a section of the overbridge, bringing traffic to a complete halt and leaving locals stranded with both the closed railway gate and the unusable overbridge. This dual crisis severely disrupted connectivity across Itadhi Road and neighboring areas, sparking fierce protests, sit-ins, rail roko agitations by local villagers and organizations, and intense lobbying by public representatives before railway board authorities and parliament. Recognizing the gravity of the public interest issue, the Railway Board granted in-principle approval to reopen the crossing, leading to necessary repairs and the eventual resumption of traffic on Friday. Educational institutions around Itadhi Road welcomed the move, as students and parents breathed a sigh of relief after battling severe route disruptions for months, while families transporting patients to hospitals, agricultural workers, and regular commuters also received much-needed respite. The reopening of the Itadhi railway gumti stands as a testament to the united struggle and perseverance of the people of Buxar, proving that organized and peaceful public advocacy can successfully deliver meaningful results for the community.