Railways cracks down on delays in Chakradharpur division, ramps up surveillance

Jamshedpur: Under increasing public pressure over persistent train delays, the Railway administration has stepped up enforcement and infrastructure measures across the Chakradharpur Railway Division, promising visible improvements in punctuality in the near future.

Senior officials on Tuesday met MLA Saryu Roy at the demonstration site and admitted that delays have caused serious inconvenience to passengers, particularly at Tatanagar Railway Station, a critical junction witnessing heavy traffic. They emphasized that the administration is fully aware of passenger grievances and is working continuously to restore normalcy.

Railway authorities stated that staff at all levels are engaged in round-the-clock operations to manage train movements efficiently. However, they noted that ongoing infrastructure expansion and technical constraints are temporarily affecting punctuality. These challenges, officials said, are being addressed on a priority basis with long-term solutions in focus.

Round-the-clock surveillance to check delays

In a major operational move, the Railways has introduced 24×7 monitoring of passenger train movements across the division. This real-time surveillance is enabling quicker identification of bottlenecks and faster decision-making, helping to reduce delays incrementally.

Infrastructure limitations at Tatanagar

One of the key bottlenecks remains limited infrastructure at Tatanagar station. Currently, the station operates with restricted platform capacity—two platforms towards the Kharagpur side and three towards the Adityapur side—placing significant strain on operations.

Recent Non-Interlocking works at Santragachi and Adityapur have enabled third-line connectivity from Asanboni to Salgajuri, offering partial relief. Similar works are planned at Tatanagar, after which the third line will extend up to Jharsuguda, significantly easing congestion.

Expansion plans to ease congestion

To address long-term capacity issues, the Railways is expanding loop lines at key stations including Birajpur, Sini, Kandra, Haldipokhar, and Biribans. These additions will facilitate smoother crossing and overtaking of trains, reducing unscheduled halts.

An additional platform has also been proposed at Tatanagar station. Once completed, it is expected to eliminate frequent unscheduled stoppages currently occurring at stations like Gamharia, Adityapur, and Kandra due to platform shortages.

Dedicated freight corridor to bring long-term relief

A major structural reform in the pipeline is the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC), stretching nearly 1,868 km from Dankuni to Surat and passing through the division. Once operational, freight trains will shift to dedicated tracks, freeing up existing lines exclusively for passenger services. Officials believe this will significantly reduce delays and transform rail operations in the region.

New trains added amid rising demand

In response to growing passenger demand, 24 new coaching trains have been introduced in the Tatanagar section over the past three years, improving connectivity to key destinations. Railway officials said these additions reflect a commitment to enhancing passenger convenience alongside infrastructure upgrades.

Improvement expected, but delays persist for now

While authorities remain confident that ongoing works will deliver long-term benefits, passengers continue to face delays in the short term. Officials have urged commuters to remain patient, assuring that intensified monitoring, infrastructure expansion, and upcoming mega projects will soon result in smoother and more reliable train services across the South Eastern Railway network.