Passengers planning travel through the Chakradharpur Division should prepare for significant schedule changes as Indian Railways has announced a series of cancellations and diversions. This disruption is scheduled to take place from September 24 to October 3, 2026, to facilitate essential non-interlocking (NI) work on the Bondamunda (A-cabin)–Rourkela rail section. This infrastructure upgrade, which includes the installation of a new Electronic Interlocking system, is being conducted to enhance long-term track safety and operational efficiency.
Key highlights of the upcoming rail disruptions include:
- 13 pairs of passenger and express trains will remain cancelled during this maintenance window.
- Affected routes include services connecting Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and northern India.
- Several long-distance trains have been diverted to alternative routes to bypass the work zone.
- Passengers are advised to verify their specific train status via the official IRCTC portal or the NTES app before heading to the station.
Affected Train Services
The list of cancelled trains includes several primary services such as the Hatia–Rourkela Passenger (58659/58660), Hatia–Jharsuguda MEMU (18175/18176), Tatanagar–Hatia Express (18601/18602), and the Puri–Hatia Tapaswini Express (18451/18452). Furthermore, the Sambalpur–Jammu Tawi Express (18309) will see cancellations on September 22, 24, and 26, 2026, with its return service (18310) cancelled on September 25, 27, and 29, 2026.
Diversion Details
To maintain connectivity, railway authorities have rerouted select trains. The New Delhi–Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express (20818) on September 27, 2026, will be diverted via the Bokaro Steel City–Adra–Midnapore–Hijli route. Additionally, the Puri–Yog Nagri Rishikesh Express (18477) scheduled for September 30 and October 1, 2026, will operate via Cuttack–Sambalpur City–Jharsuguda Road–Ib.
These maintenance works are vital for the modernization of the rail network. While the temporary disruption may cause inconvenience for thousands of commuters, these upgrades are essential for ensuring safer and more reliable train travel in the future. Passengers are encouraged to stay updated through official railway announcements.