Train passengers in the Raipur and Nagpur areas should brace themselves for a difficult period while the Indian Railways conducts substantial infrastructure upgrades on the Bilaspur-Nagpur Section. The railway authorities have set an 18-hour mega block from 9 a.m. on August 4 to 3 p.m. on August 5 to allow the introduction of the third line’s electronic interlocking. While this improvement promises improved operational efficiency and capacity on the railway route, the immediate repercussions have been inconvenient for many passengers.
Travellers have been impacted by the cancellation of many trains that mostly serve the Raipur and Nagpur regions. The disruptions in train services, which are critical lifelines for daily travel, have confused and frustrated customers. Many people rely on these trains to get to work, school, and other important places, making the sudden disruptions quite alarming.
The problem has been aggravated further by last week’s closure of the Rajnandgaon-Kalamna third line, which has already disrupted trains serving Korba, Bilaspur, and Jharsuguda. Travellers have questioned the design and timing of such substantial upgrades and whether better management could have been used to minimise the difficulties experienced. While the railway officials are optimistic about the long-term benefits of the upgraded third line, passengers are urging better communication and planning from the railway administration to mitigate the immediate hardships. At present, train schedules are severely impacted, leading to delays and missed appointments for many commuters.