The train movement between Tatanagar and Rourkela section of South Eastern Railway’s Chakradharpur division, which was paralysed for the last two days due to the agitation at Bondamunda station in neighbouring Odisha, is returning back to normalcy. Sources said the agitation by local people, mostly villagers, (who squatted on the railway tracks) against inclusion of two panchayats in Rourkela Municipal Corporation, resulted in complete suspension of rail traffic between Rourkela and Tatanagar on the Howrah-Mumbai trunk route.
Due to agitation, the tranis were diverted, short-terminated, rescheduled and cancelled leading to passengers’ inconvenience. On Thursday too, several trains were running behind schedule. Railway authorities at Garden Reach, headquarters of South Eastern Railway said that the Dhanbad-Bhubaneshwar Garib Rath Express ( 12831) was also cancelled due to agitation.
The Shalimar-Kurla Express was diverted via Kharagpur, Bhadrak, Angul, Sasmbalpur and Jharsuguda. Three trains had to be rescheduled due to the stir. Movement of half-a-dozen other trains including Howrah-bound Duronto and Ispat Superfast Express (both Up and Down trains) were affected due to the agitation.
Meanwhile, passengers had a tough time as the train schedule went haywire. Three additional counters had to be opened at the Tatanagar Railway Station for mass cancellation of tickets and giving back refunds to the passengers. There were many people who opted for road route to reach Rourkela as none of the trains could reach that destination from Tatanagar.
Rail services on Tata-Rourkela section under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway resumed after the agitation by locals at Bondamunda (Odisha) on Howrah-Mumbai trunk route was withdrawn. The Tatanagar station is an important station because it is located on the Howrah-Mumbai main route. Several important trains run 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.