Commuters travelling between Cuttack, Bhadrak and beyond, take note. East Coast Railway is gearing up for a crucial safety-related modernisation project that will temporarily reshape train services over the coming days.
In a bid to commission the third line on the Kenduapada–Bhadrak–Kataka section under the Khordha Road Division, railway authorities will carry out essential works at Kenduapada station. To ensure the work proceeds safely and smoothly, several passenger services will be cancelled, short-terminated or short-originated between 27 and 30 August 2026.
Cancelled Services
Two popular MEMU trains will not run on 29 and 30 August:
- 68438 Kataka–Bhadrak MEMU
- 68437 Bhadrak–Kataka MEMU
Short-Terminated / Short-Originated Services
Several other trains will operate on truncated routes:
- 68424 Kataka–Bhadrak MEMU will terminate at Jajpur Kendujhar Road (29–30 August)
- 68423 Bhadrak–Kataka MEMU will originate from Jajpur Kendujhar Road (29–30 August)
- 18037 Kharagpur–Jajpur Kendujhar Road Express will terminate at Bhadrak (27–29 August)
- 18038 Jajpur Kendujhar Road–Kharagpur Express will originate from Bhadrak (28–30 August)
- 18021 Kharagpur–Khordha Road Express will terminate at Bhadrak (27–30 August)
- 18022 Khordha Road–Kharagpur Express will originate from Bhadrak (27–30 August)
Railway officials emphasise that these temporary measures are essential for the long-term improvement of capacity and safety on this busy corridor. The addition of a third line is expected to significantly ease congestion and enhance punctuality once commissioned.
Passengers are strongly advised to verify the latest status of their trains on the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) or the official Indian Railways website before starting their journey. Alternative arrangements and revised timings, where applicable, will be updated in real time.
While short-term inconvenience is inevitable, the modernisation work marks another step towards a more robust and efficient rail network in Odisha. East Coast Railway requests the cooperation of passengers as it prioritises safety and future-ready infrastructure.
