Vande Bharat, Gitanjali Express likely to halt at Ghatshila soon

Pioneer News Service

Jamshedpur

In a major boost for rail passengers in East Singhbhum, the South Eastern Railway (SER) has submitted a proposal to the Railway Board seeking scheduled stoppages for several prominent long-distance trains at Ghatshila and nearby stations. If approved, the move is expected to significantly improve connectivity for thousands of commuters from the region.

The development came to light during the 106th meeting of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) held at Hotel Taj Bengal in Kolkata under the chairmanship of Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato. Railway officials informed the committee that a detailed proposal has already been forwarded to the Railway Board for consideration and final approval.

For years, passengers from Ghatshila, Galudih, Rakha Mines and surrounding rural areas have been forced to travel to major railway hubs such as Tatanagar and Chakradharpur to board long-distance trains. The proposed halts are expected to ease travel difficulties and provide greater convenience to residents of the subdivision.

Among the trains proposed to stop at Ghatshila are the Ranchi–Howrah Vande Bharat Express, Howrah–Mumbai Gitanjali Express, Howrah–Pune Azad Hind Express, Howrah–Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express and the Santragachi–Anand Vihar/Ajmer Weekly Express. In addition, a stoppage for the Howrah–Kantabanji Ispat Express has been proposed at Galudih station, while the Puri–Rishikesh Kalinga Utkal Express has been recommended for a halt at Rakha Mines station.

Addressing concerns regarding train operations in the region, South Eastern Railway General Manager Anil Kumar Jain clarified that there is no proposal to permanently shift train services from Tatanagar to Adityapur. He stated that any temporary operational adjustments are being made solely due to ongoing redevelopment work at Tatanagar Junction. All train services will resume normal operations from Tatanagar once the modernization project is completed.

The General Manager also reviewed several infrastructure projects underway in the region. He informed the committee that tenders for the Barigora and Govindpur railway overbridges have been finalized and construction work is expected to begin shortly. Meanwhile, the much-awaited Salgajhuri underpass is targeted to be opened for public use by November 2026.

The proposed train stoppages and infrastructure upgrades have generated optimism among residents, who believe the measures will improve accessibility, reduce travel hardships and contribute to the overall development of the region.