Indian Railways cancelled 245 Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10 at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations. The cancellations affect trains departing after 2 pm on October 9, aimed at avoiding passenger inconvenience amid anticipated severe road traffic congestion caused by a planned protest in Delhi on October 10.
Notable Cancelled Trains and Routes
Key trains cancelled include the Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (train 12313), Shatabdi Express services from Kanpur Central, and Rajdhani Express from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai (train 22221). Other affected services originate from Rajendra Nagar Terminal, Prayagraj Junction, Manikpur Junction,
Banaras, Agra Cantt, Kasganj, Lucknow Junction, Jabalpur, Udaipur City, Shri Ganganagar, Tilak Bridge, and Dehradun. The Hazrat Nizamuddin Garib Rath scheduled for October 10 was also cancelled by the Ranchi division.
Impact on Stations and Traffic
The cancellations cover arrivals at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations, with routes including Islampur to New Delhi on the Magadh Express and Banaras to New Delhi on the Banaras Express. Authorities anticipate heavy congestion around these stations resulting from the CJP protest on October 10. Possible suspension of the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service is also expected, although details are pending.
Official Announcements and Division Actions
The Eastern Railway’s Sealdah division confirmed
the cancellation of the Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express departing October 9, citing anticipated heavy road traffic. Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) across Sealdah, Bhopal (West Central Railway), Mumbai (Central Railway), and Ranchi divisions issued official advisories via social media. The Bhopal division cancelled train 22221 Mumbai–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express due to operational reasons, while the Ranchi division communicated the Garib Rath cancellation on October 10.
Travel Impact and Passenger Advisory
Passenger travel was disrupted on October 8 due to protests and traffic jams, causing approximately 5,000 passengers to miss their trains. Unnamed railway sources cited by IANS noted that several passengers could not reach stations on
time, and IRCTC group bookings were cancelled. Travelers are advised to check the latest train status and cancellation updates using official Indian Railways channels before journeying. Refunds and alternate arrangements should be pursued for cancelled trains.
Divisional Railway Manager Sealdah urged passengers to take note of changes and plan journeys accordingly. Railway sources stated that cancellations were issued to prevent public inconvenience resulting from expected heavy congestion near key stations in Delhi during the protest.
Background and Reasoning
The cancellations follow intelligence inputs and traffic advisories warning of disruptions in and around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations caused by the CJP
protest scheduled on October 10. This measure was implemented to minimize passenger inconvenience ahead of a large-scale protest forecast to cause severe road traffic congestion near the capital’s principal railway stations.
