Tatanagar Snr DCM: Train Delays Down; Punctuality Up to 75%

Jamshedpur: Amid growing outrage and protests by passengers over persistent train delays in the Chakradharpur Railway Division, the Tatanagar Railway Station, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Aditya Chaudhary stated that train operations have shown significant improvement over the past 15 days.

Operational Gains and Monitoring

Chaudhary reported that punctuality rates, which previously slumped to 35%, now range between 65% and 75%. He noted that trains previously delayed by up to 120 minutes now face shorter windows of 15 to 20 minutes. “Officers are monitoring each train to prevent bottlenecks and ensure smooth movement across the network,” Chaudhary said, promising further stabilization in the coming days.

Infrastructure Expansion to Ease Congestion

The railway administration has launched several projects to resolve long-standing traffic issues:

• Sini-Chaibasa & Gamharia-Chandil: Plans to lay third and fourth lines are underway to ease pressure on the congested triangle section.
• Tatanagar-Adityapur: Work continues on the third line, while a fourth line progresses between Asanboni and Bagbera.
• Sini-Rajkharsawan: Authorities have finalized plans for fifth and sixth lines to provide alternative routes for trains arriving from Jharsuguda and Chandil.

Freight vs. Passenger Priority

The Senior DCM dismissed claims that the railways prioritize freight over passenger movement. He supported this with recent data showing 47 passenger trains operated through the section compared to 35 freight trains. He further explained that once the Dedicated Freight Corridor becomes operational, freight traffic will shift to separate tracks. This transition will allow passenger trains to utilize the main lines at speeds up to 130 km/h.

Wildlife and Environmental Safety

Officials also noted that environmental constraints impact speed. The division regulates train speeds in designated elephant corridors to ensure wildlife safety. Despite these technical challenges, Chaudhary emphasized that the administration remains committed to passenger convenience and is working to eliminate delays through coordinated infrastructure upgrades.