Train services remained affected on Monday, following a traffic-cum-power block for launching of a normal height subway between Tangarmunda and Bamra in Chakradharpur division. The services would remain affected for the next two days too.
The trains that were hit included: 18105/18106 Rourkela – Puri – Rourkela Express that remained today. The train will continue to remain canceled till January 12. The 08167/08168 Rourkela – Jharsuguda – MEMU Passenger will also remain cancelled till January 12. The 18175/18176 Hatia- Jharsuguda – Express remained cancelled since Sunday. It will continue to remain canceled on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The 13288 Rajendranagar – Durg South Bihar Express will remain cancelled today.
The 12871 Howrah – Titlagarh Ispat Express was short terminated at Rourkela and will run as passenger special in the path and timings of 12872 from Rourkela to Howrah.
Passengers faced the brunt as the cancellation and short termination of trains resulted in mass cancellation of tickets, said railway sources.
Meanwhile, passengers had a tough time due to disruption in the train services. The enquiry counters of Tatanagar railway station were flooded with anxious passengers. " I was not aware of the cancellation of trains. We came to know about it only after reaching the station this morning," said a passenger.
The Tatanagar station assumes importance because it is located on the Howrah-Mumbai main route. Several important trains travel via Tatanagar, including the high-profile Rajdhani Express and Duronto Express. The station sees a daily traffic of 90 mail, express and passenger trains, besides a footfall of more than 60,000 passengers.