MUMBAI: Ahead of CJP’s planned protest in Delhi on Saturday, the railways, citing ‘road congestion’ in the national capital, cancelled and rescheduled many long-distance trains, leaving over 4,000 passengers in Mumbai stranded.Western Railway rescheduled the Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express by five hours, while cancelling the Bandra Terminus-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express, Dr Ambedkar Nagar-New Delhi Express, Indore-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express, Indore-New Delhi Express, and Sabarmati-New Delhi Express. On Central Railway, the CSMT-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express was cancelled, leaving over 1,200 passengers stranded. WR officials reported that more than 4,000 travellers were impacted by the sudden schedule overhauls across its lines.Across several states, activists were intercepted, deboarded and detained, including a group of 14 women of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) travelling to Delhi from Pune, which was deboarded at Itarsi on Thursday evening. Anticipating heavy traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations on Saturday, the Railway Board issued an advisory, prompting the changes. Trains scheduled to reach the national capital between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday—and which departed originating stations after 2 pm on Friday–have been pulled from service.
Many travelers expressed frustration over the lack of alternate transport options due to the decisions made by railway authorities.
Passengers expressed frustration. “While railway officials said they were cancelling trains in our interest due to expected congestion in Delhi, we were upset as train journeys are usually planned and booked in advance,” said Harish Subramanium, slated to travel to the capital from CSMT. “Such last-minute cancellations are frustrating, whatever reason is given to justify the decision. We have no alternate transport as Delhi is a long distance, and almost all other trains are running full or with long waitlists.”One family scheduled on the Rajdhani Express ended up waiting nearly five hours inside the station premises following a rescheduling announcement. “We came for the 5 pm train, but decided not to go back into the city as we would get stuck in evening peak-hour traffic,” said an elderly family member, requesting anonymity. “The best option was to wait at the station, but that too was cumbersome. Our plans to reach Delhi early Saturday and have a full day to ourselves have been foiled.” Railway officials maintained the measures were necessary to manage passenger safety and platform congestion in Delhi.In Bhopal, four CJP members travelling aboard the Telangana Express were intercepted on Thursday night over law-and-order concerns and sent back to Hyderabad. Another protester heading from Pune to Delhi was taken off a train at Bhusawal. Other reports of similar detentions came in from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and other parts of Maharashtra.Ajinkya Shinde, organisation secretary of CJP, condemned the curbs, stating, “Everyone is being tracked continuously, many trains cancelled and many others delayed. Thousands are coming to Delhi, and all these tactics show that somewhere the govt is scared and doesn’t want any more protests happening.”Railway authorities have assured full refunds for affected travellers, noting online bookings will be automatically credited back, while passengers with PRS counter tickets must visit reservation desks for refunds or rebooking. Officials have advised all travellers to verify train status before heading to stations as Delhi braces for heightened security.
