Patna: Rail services across Bihar are set to face widespread disruption this month, with 28 trains affected due to infrastructure upgrades and operational changes, railway officials have said.
The East Central Railway confirmed that non-interlocking (NI) work in the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Division and Lucknow Division will impact train movement from May 4 to May 27. The works, essential for improving signalling systems and ensuring safer operations, will result in cancellations, diversions and short-termination of several services, including those passing through Patna.
Separately, the removal of a CC apron on line number 1 at Gaya Junction railway station will lead to the cancellation of the Patna–Gaya and Gaya–Patna special trains between May 4 and May 16.
According to officials, four trains will run on diverted routes, while six services will be short-terminated, ending their journeys before reaching their usual destinations. In addition, yard remodelling work at Jaunpur Junction railway station has prompted route changes for multiple trains, with 16 services scheduled to operate via alternative routes.
Among the affected trains is the Patna–Gomti Nagar Vande Bharat Express, which will run via the Zafarabad–Sultanpur–Ayodhya Cantt route between May 4 and May 27. As a result, it will not halt at Ayodhya Dham railway station during this period.
The Kota–Patna Express will also be diverted on selected dates — May 14, 15, 17, 21, 22 and 24— operating via the Lucknow–Sultanpur–Zafarabad route. Similarly, the Indore–Patna Express will follow the same diverted route on May 9, 16 and 23. These diversions mean the trains will skip scheduled halts at Ayodhya Cantt, Akbarpur and Jaunpur stations.
Meanwhile, the Ganga Damodar Express will operate on a modified route between May 4 and May 16. The service will run up to Dhanbad via Patna, Jatdumri, Islampur and Tilaiya, with the return journey following the same alignment.
Saraswati Chandra, chief public relations officer of the East Central Railway, said the changes were necessary to facilitate infrastructure upgrades and minimise long-term disruptions. Passengers have been advised to check updated schedules before travelling.
