Bhagalpur/Patna: Rail services on the Bhagalpur–Jamalpur section will face temporary disruption at the end of ongoing week as the Eastern Railway carries out critical infrastructure work at Sultanganj station.
The disruption comes as part of an accelerated effort to construct a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge aimed at improving passenger safety and easing movement between platforms. Railway authorities have scheduled traffic and power blocks during the nights of May 8-9 and 9–10 to facilitate the installation of heavy steel girders across the tracks.
According to officials, train operations will be suspended between 21:50 and 02:20 hours during the block periods. The decision, they said, has been taken in the interest of passengers’safety due to the complexity of placing large steel structures over active railway lines.
Shibram Manjhi, chief public relations officer of Eastern Railway, said the project is essential given the difficulties passengers currently face when moving between platforms. “The construction involves installing heavy steel structures above the tracks, making traffic and power blocks necessary from a safety standpoint,” he said.
The disruption will include complete cancellation of the 73436/73435 Jamalpur–Bhagalpur–Jamalpur DEMU service on May 8 and 9, a move likely to affect daily commuters, including workers and students.
Several long-distance services will also be rescheduled. The 13031 Howrah–Jaynagar Express will depart three hours late at 14:25 hours on both days, while the 13415 Malda Town–Patna Express will leave two hours late at 22:20 on May 8. Similarly, the 15743 and 15733 Balurghat–Bhatinda Express services will run two hours behind schedule on May 8 and 9 respectively.
Railway officials said the last trains before the block will include the Deoghar–Jamalpur Passenger and the Danapur–Bhagalpur Intercity, while services such as the Balurghat–Bhatinda Express and Ranchi–Godda Express will be among the first to resume after the block ends.
Passengers have been advised to check updated train schedules before travelling, particularly those planning overnight journeys, and to arrive at stations well in advance.
The Bhagalpur–Jamalpur section is a key route within Eastern Railway, handling significant passenger and freight traffic daily. While the temporary disruption is expected to affect both local and long-distance services, officials said normal operations would be restored promptly once the work is completed.
