Central Railway has announced significant changes in train operations due to the construction of a third line between Kalyan and Kasara stations. The work is focused on the Khardi yard and includes both pre-non-interlocking and non-interlocking activities. According to Ashok Kumar, Public Relations Officer of Varanasi Division, North Eastern Railway, several trains passing through Ballia will face regulation and route diversions during this period.
Impacted trains and rescheduled timings
The infrastructure project will lead to the regulation and rescheduling of several prominent express and special trains. Passengers are advised to check their train status before starting their journey.
- Ballia-Dadar Special: This train will be regulated for over an hour at Kasara station on April 19 and April 24.
- LTT-Banaras Express: Scheduled to be delayed by 1 hour 45 minutes on April 25.
- Jayanagar-LTT Pawan Express: This train will travel through the diverted route of Manmad-Pune-Lonavala.
- Banaras-LTT Special: Will follow the Manmad-Pune-Kalyan route on April 24.
- CSMT-Banaras Mahanagari Express: Expected to be rescheduled on April 26 for 1 hour 10 minutes.
Details of the third line project and long-term benefits
The 13.53 km electrified line between Kasara and Khardi is a crucial part of the railway expansion plan. This project aims to decongest the existing tracks and allow for smoother movement of freight and passenger traffic. While the temporary non-interlocking work causes manual train operation and speed restrictions, it ensures the installation of modern signaling systems. Additionally, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has already approved a larger project worth 18,509 crore for multi-tracking on the Kasara-Manmad section to further boost capacity.