Itarhi railway crossing in Buxar reopens for public access on Friday morning
Commuters and local residents in Bihar will finally get relief as the Itarhi railway crossing in Buxar is officially scheduled to reopen for public access at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. This major decision comes after months of public protests, severe inconvenience, and administrative hurdles following the unexpected failure of a newly constructed local infrastructure project.
- Official reopening time: Friday at 9:00 a.m.
- Location: Itarhi railway crossing level crossing number 70, Buxar, Bihar.
- Background: Closed initially on May 30, 2026, after a ₹26 crore Road Over Bridge became unusable just 10 days post-inauguration.
- Current status: 80 percent of recovery work including track rubber pads and barrier reinstallation is complete.
Timeline of the Buxar Itarhi Crossing Crisis
The controversy surrounding level crossing number 70 began when the railways permanently closed the gate on May 30, 2026, directing all daily traffic to a newly built Road Over Bridge (ROB). Built at a substantial cost of ₹26 crore, the bridge was expected to ease congestion. However, disaster struck when an expansion joint slab was severely damaged on June 4, 2026, rendering the bridge entirely unusable just 10 days after its grand inauguration.
Amidst mounting public pressure, Buxar District Magistrate Sahila assured citizens that the main structure of the ROB was safe and ordered the construction corporation to complete urgent repairs within 10 days. Consequently, authorities temporarily reopened the Itarhi crossing for 10 days beginning June 5, 2026. When subsequent closures were enforced, it triggered massive public outrage, leading to intense track-blocking protests by local groups such as the 'Athi Pichhda Sangharsh' on July 18, 2026.
Restoration Work Nears Completion
The breakthrough came on August 29, 2026, when Buxar MP Sudhakar Singh announced that formal permission had been granted to reopen the crossing, though administrative and technical procedures would take about a week. By September 6, 2026, restoration efforts accelerated significantly. Railway personnel confirmed that 80% of the required work—including the critical installation of rubber pads between the tracks and the reinstallation of security barriers—has been successfully finished to ensure safe passage for both road vehicles and trains.