Lucknow Charbagh Railway Station is currently witnessing two major developments. The RPF Crime Branch has dismantled a smuggling syndicate involving foreign cigarettes, while Northern Railway has announced a mega block for concourse construction. These updates will affect both security operations and daily passenger travel for several weeks.
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How did the RPF bust the cigarette smuggling syndicate?
Under Operation Satark, the RPF Crime Branch seized foreign cigarettes worth 38.40 lakh rupees on May 3rd and 4th, 2026. The team, led by Inspector Mukesh Kumar Singh and Sub-Inspector Prashant Singh Yadav, caught Asif Khan with 16 parcels. These parcels contained 3,84,000 cigarette sticks weighing 560.2 kg, which were sent from New Delhi via the 12004 Shatabdi Express. To avoid detection, the smugglers declared the goods as mobile covers, jeans, and plastic items. A case has been registered under Section 163 of the Railway Act, and the GST department will investigate tax evasion.
Which trains are affected by the construction work at Charbagh?
Northern Railway and RLDA are building a new concourse at Lucknow Charbagh from May 15 to June 23, 2026. This 40-day project involves foundation and base work on Platforms 3 and 4. Due to a daily six-hour power block, train services have been modified as follows:
| Train/Service | Impact/Change |
|---|---|
| Jhansi-Lucknow MEMU | Cancelled for 40 days |
| Jhansi Intercity | Terminates at Kanpur Central |
| Lucknow-Shahjahanpur/Balamau Intercity | Operate from Alambagh Station |
| 38 Trains | Platform changes at Lucknow |
| 12 Trains | Diverted via Kanpur Central-Aishbagh-Malhaur-Barabanki |
Diverted trains include the Muzaffarpur Superfast, Okha Express, and Pune-Gorakhpur Express, among others. Passengers are advised to check their train status via the Rail One app or helpline 139.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which trains are cancelled or diverted due to construction at Lucknow Charbagh?
The Jhansi-Lucknow MEMU is cancelled for 40 days, and the Jhansi Intercity will terminate at Kanpur Central. Additionally, 12 trains are diverted via Aishbagh and Badshahnagar.
What was the modus operandi of the cigarette smugglers at Lucknow Junction?
Smugglers used the New Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi Express to send illegal cigarettes, falsely declaring them as mobile covers, jeans, and plastic items in parcels.