Nagpur: Passengers travelling towards Mumbai and Gujarat will face delays of up to two hours for the next 52 days as Central Railway shut Nagpur station’s platform 2 on Wednesday for major redevelopment works triggering a cascade of operational adjustments, including diversions, short terminations and rescheduling of trains. Around 40-45 trains are expected to be diverted or adjusted in various ways during this period.The worst hit are key west-bound services such as the Shalimar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express (18030/12102), which are being delayed by up to 2.15 hours, while trains like the Shalimar-Okha (22906) and Shalimar-Porbandar Express (12906) are running behind schedule by over an hour. Railway officials said the delays are due to reduced platform availability and resulting congestion at the busy junction.The disruption follows the closure of platform 2 from April 8 to May 29 for construction of a new concourse as part of a broader station modernisation plan being executed by the Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). The work is being synchronised with non-interlocking operations at Gondia in the South East Central Railway zone to optimise block usage.Despite the large-scale impact, no trains have been cancelled. However, several operational changes have been introduced to manage traffic. The Madgaon-Nagpur Special (01140) will now terminate at Ajni instead of Nagpur twice a week, while its return service (01139) will originate from Ajni during the block period. Officials said a few trains have been shifted to Ajni to ease pressure on Nagpur station.In addition, select long-distance specials — including Hyderabad-Gorakhpur, KSR Bengaluru-Lal Kuan, and KSR Bengaluru-Danapur services — have been diverted via Wardha, Badnera, Chandur Bazar, Narkhed and Itarsi, effectively bypassing Nagpur.Other trains, including the Ayodhya Cantt-Rameswaram and Chhapra-MGR Chennai Central express services, will see regulated movement with delays ranging from 10 minutes to nearly two hours.Railway officials acknowledged that congestion may increase but said alternative platforms are being utilised to maintain operations. “There will be some increase in congestion due to reduced platform capacity, but trains are being managed across other platforms and nearby stations like Ajni,” a senior official said.The railway administration has urged passengers to check real-time train status before travel. While inconvenience is inevitable, officials maintained that the ongoing works — including station upgrades, underground parking and improved passenger facilities — will significantly enhance travel experience once completed.BoxUnderground parking nears completion,AC waiting hall ready at Nagpur stationNagpur: The much-awaited underground parking facility in front of Nagpur railway station is nearing completion, with railway officials indicating that the project is likely to be ready before the monsoon. The area has been covered with flooring and staff parking has started with free movement for pick and drop too.Alongside, a new air-conditioned waiting hall for passengers has been made operational on a temporary basis in the new administrative building near Ram Jhula. Officials said nearly 70% of the overall redevelopment work at the station has been completed. The new AC facility is currently operational while the original waiting hall area undergoes refurbishment. Authorities clarified that this arrangement is temporary, and the new building will eventually house multiple railway offices.The underground parking project, aimed at decongesting the busy station frontage, is in its final stages, with finishing works and installation of lifts expected to be completed soon.The redevelopment also includes construction of a new concourse and improvement of passenger circulation areas. Work on the station’s front side, including major excavation, has largely been completed, paving the way for smoother access once the project is finished.Railway officials said platform 1 works have already been completed without requiring closure, while additional upgrades such as track straightening will be taken up in later phases.InfoKey Train Changes During Nagpur Platform Closure (52 days)Train No. | Train Name | Change / Impact18030 | Shalimar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express | Delayed by up to 2 hrs 15 mins12102 | Shalimar-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express | Delayed by around 1 hr 10 mins22906 | Shalimar-Okha Express | Delayed by around 1 hr 10 mins12906 | Shalimar-Porbandar Express | Delayed by around 1 hr 10 mins22614 | Ayodhya Cantt-Rameswaram Express | Regulated; delays 10 mins to 2 hrs12670 | Chhapra-MGR Chennai Central Express | Regulated; delays 10 mins to 2 hrs01140 | Madgaon-Nagpur Special | Short-terminated at Ajni (won’t reach Nagpur)01139 | Nagpur-Madgaon Special | Origin shifted to Ajni (instead of Nagpur)07075 / 07076 | Hyderabad-Gorakhpur Express | Diverted via Wardha-Badnera-Itarsi route05073 / 05074 | KSR Bengaluru-Lal Kuan Special | Diverted via Wardha-Badnera-Itarsi route06509 / 06510 | KSR Bengaluru-Danapur Special | Diverted via Wardha-Badnera-Itarsi routeNote: No train cancellations, but widespread delays, diversions and terminal changes due to closure of platform 2 at Nagpur station.
