Railway Ministry Cancels Extension of Jamalpur Howrah Super Express to Patna
The Ministry of Railways has officially cancelled the proposed extension of the Jamalpur-Howrah Super Express (train numbers 13071/13072) to Patna, a move that has been welcomed by local advocacy groups and residents. The decision provides significant relief to thousands of daily commuters, patients, and traders across the Bhagalpur, Sultanpur, Jamalpur, and Malda rail divisions.
Key Highlights of the Cancellation:
- Train Numbers: 13071/13072 Jamalpur-Howrah Super Express extension to Patna is cancelled.
- Official Communication: Issued by the office of the Chief Passenger Transport Manager (CPTM) of Eastern Railway on September 2, 2026.
- Confirmation: Eastern Railway CPRO Shibram Majhi confirmed the development on September 4, 2026.
- Main Reason: Operational hurdles including line capacity issues, lack of platform availability, and constraints in the East Central Railway (ECR) zone.
- Stakeholder Impact: Brings relief to daily commuters, patients, and traders across Bhagalpur, Sultanpur, Jamalpur, and Malda rail divisions.
Operational Hurdles Lead to Reversal
On September 2, 2026, the office of the Chief Passenger Transport Manager of Eastern Railway issued an official communication stating that the extension was not operationally feasible. Eastern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Shibram Majhi, confirmed the development on September 4, 2026, noting that the decision was also announced via the Eastern Railway official X account. The cancellation is attributed to major operational hurdles, specifically line capacity issues, a lack of platform availability, and additional operational constraints within the East Central Railway zone, which had originally proposed the extension to the Railway Board.
Local Advocacy and Public Response
The cancellation follows a period of intense advocacy led by the Jamalpur Rail Nirman Karkhana Sangharsh Morcha, which organized protests alongside support from political organizations including the RJD and Congress. Furthermore, Vijay Mandal, a resident of Jamalpur, had formally petitioned the Railway Board in New Delhi to halt the extension plans. Following reports on September 4 and 5, 2026, confirming the reversal, residents of Jamalpur and Munger expressed satisfaction that the current operational structure of the service would remain unchanged.