Katihar/Patna: The Katihar rail division will undertake a four-day mega pre-non interlocking (pre-NI) and non-interlocking (NI) block from Tuesday to Friday to complete the final phase of the doubling project on the Katihar–Maniyan–Kuretha–Dandkhora–Sonaili rail section.
Railway officials said the block is required to commission a new signalling and interlocking system across Katihar, Maniyan, Kuretha, Dandkhora and Sonaili stations.
As part of the operation, 26 trains have been cancelled and 16 key long-distance services diverted. This is the second time the railway has taken an NI block for the project.
Why the block is being taken
Officials said the infrastructure upgrade is aimed at increasing operational efficiency and improving train movement on the route.
Once completed, the Katihar–Sonaili and Katihar–Kuretha sections are expected to handle higher traffic volumes, with railway authorities stating that train operations would become smoother, safer and more punctual.
Trains cancelled
Among the services cancelled during the block period are multiple passenger and DMU trains, including Katihar–Malda Town passenger services (55701/55702 and 55703/55704), Katihar–Radhikapur passenger services (55707/55708 and 55729/55730), Katihar–Jogbani passenger and DMU services (55727/55728 and 75745/75746), Katihar–Siliguri passenger and DMU services (55769/55770 and 75743/75744), and Katihar–Tejnarayanpur and Malda Court DMU services.
The Intercity Express services 75719/75720 and 15719/15720 are also among those cancelled.
Railway officials said the cancellations would be spread across different dates within the block period.
Long-distance trains diverted
A total of 16 long-distance trains will operate on altered routes between upto Friday.
These include the Rohtak–Kamakhya Express (15672), Chandigarh–Dibrugarh Express (15904), Panvel–New Alipurduar Express (11031), Gomtinagar–Kamakhya Express (15078), Deoghar–Agartala Express (15625), Guwahati–Jammu Tawi Express (15651 and 15653), Dibrugarh–Rajendra Nagar Terminal Express (13281), Ajmer–Kishanganj Express (15716), Sealdah–Saharsa Express (13169), Dibrugarh–Lalgarh Avadh Assam Express (15909), Jammu Tawi–Guwahati Express (15652), Saharsa–Sealdah Express (13170), Lalgarh–Dibrugarh Avadh Assam Express (15910), Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (12424), and Anand Vihar–Kamakhya Express (13248).
Passengers have been advised to check updated train schedules and routes before travel.
