Nagpur: In a major relief for passengers during the ongoing festive season, the South East Central Railway (SECR) will resume services of nearly seven trains on the Itwari-Chhindwara route from Monday. Train services on this route had been suspended for over seven months. SECR has completed crucial construction work on the Itwari-Chhindwara rail route, particularly between the Bhandarkund-Bhimlalgunj section. The project was severely affected by heavy rains in August last year. “Trains can now operate at a sectional speed of 60 kmph on this stretch,” officials confirmed.
On Sunday, a composite steel girder bridge, numbered 94, was commissioned between the Bhandarkund-Bhimlalgunj stretch. The bridge built on a 40-metre-deep pile foundation was completed in record time. The project cost approximately Rs 29 crore. This bridge was part of the reconstruction of a block section impacted by mudslides and structural movements. Officials stated that the bridge became operational after receiving the necessary approvals from the railway safety commissioner.
There had been a consistent demand for resuming services on the Itwari-Chhindwara section via the Bhandarkund-Bhimlalgunj stretch, as it offered a faster transit option. Due to the affected stretch, trains were forced to take a detour, adding at least a couple of hours to travel time.
The bridge’s construction was completed under the supervision of R.K. Singh, chief engineer (construction), Pradeep Goswami, deputy chief engineer (construction), and Ankit Singh, deputy chief electrical engineer (construction). SECR top officials, including Nagpur division’s DRM Deepak Kumar Gupta, principal chief engineer Mudhit Bhutanagar, chief administrative officer (construction) SK Tiwari, and members of the technical team, inspected the bridge on Saturday. Tarun Prakash, general manager of SECR, also praised the team for the timely completion of the bridge.
With the new bridge now operational, normal passenger and freight train services will resume on this route, restoring direct connectivity for trains such as Itwari-Chhindwara, Rewa-Itwari, and Nagpur-Shahdol, thereby enhancing convenience for passengers in the region.
CR to Conduct High-Speed Engine Trial
Nagpur: Central Railway (CR) authorities are set to conduct a high-speed engine trial on the Itarsi-Nagpur route on Monday, where ongoing construction work is progressing. According to sources, the high-speed engine trial will be conducted at 130 km per hour between Nagpur railway station and Godhani as part of the third-line project. CR authorities recently commissioned the third line between Bharatwada and Godhani.
