Bhagalpur, Bihar: A technical problem is impacting the morning journey of the Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express. The recent installation of the washing pitline for the train has faced a severe obstacle. There are problems with some valves, and that could involve a repair and replacement cost of Rs 20 lakh for the railways. Since this problem occurred, the planned launch of the train scheduled for May is no longer possible. It is anticipated that the new pitline will make it much easier for passengers once construction is complete.
Why is the Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express Facing this Delay?
The Howrah-Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express was going to be launched from Bhagalpur each morning by the end of May. For maintenance issues, the authorities designed a brand-new washing pitline to support the train operations. The facility is being built for Rs 25 crore. It must ensure quick cleaning and maintenance of all parts of the train.
However, a big problem has arisen during the arrangements for the morning Vande Bharat Express from Bhagalpur. The line for washing is still not operational, and even before it was turned on, the technology installed has begun to fail. It is especially the water valves that were set up just in July that are starting to break down. This means that the pipe that delivers water needs to be wholly replaced. An estimated thirty-five valves will be replaced, and this job is predicted to cost approximately Rs 20 lakh. The repair work in the harbor is being carried out by the Konark Agency.
Repairing is Ongoing, But the Wait is Uncertain
The work on the state-of-the-art washing pitline began at Bhagalpur railway yard in 2020, and it was planned to finish in December 2023. Even so, the project is not yet finished because of the constant delays and issues. HOIT was in charge of developing the pitline, though there have been many difficulties, and the work has taken a long time. For this reason, we are still not able to use the pit line. The problems caused by the construction and unfinished tasks are preventing some trains from being maintained on schedule. Therefore, many trains must stop on platforms, resulting in crowding at the stations and difficulty in handling trains. It slows down other trains and leads to greater use of available resources.
Today, the Bhagalpur yard has three washing pitlines as well as three sick lines. Every day, these centers are used to clean and inspect the Vikramshila Express, Ang Express, Gandhidham Express, Amarnath Express, and Vananchal Express. Doing a thorough cleaning and check on a train generally takes around six hours. Due to a shortage of pitlines, railway workers regularly move trains to shunting yards or have them stand on platforms until the situation clears. All these issues result in the company using more fuel, causing late departures and having a poorer standard of service.
After the new washing pitline starts working, there will be four pitlines in operation throughout Bhagalpur. It will ease maintenance for the Bhagalpur Vande Bharat Express as well as for other trains. In addition, it will improve the lines in the yard and provide the opportunity for more train services along the Sahibganj–Bhagalpur–Kiul route. Overall, this change will make trains more convenient and efficient for people living in the region.
