The increased pressure of Kumbh Mela Special trains on the railway tracks has led to the cancellation of several regular trains and a slowdown in goods trains.
In the past 10 days, the Dhanbad division alone has faced a freight revenue loss of over ₹200 crores.
Usually, this division earns around ₹85 crores per day, but now, daily losses range between ₹20-25 crores.
After the stampede at New Delhi station, the Railways decided to run more special trains to Prayagraj from different parts of the country.
To accommodate passengers with prior reservations, 15 major regular trains passing through Dhanbad were canceled.
The focus shifted to running special trains, which further slowed down the movement of goods trains.
In these 10 days, Railways prioritized mail-express and local trains over goods trains to ensure smooth travel for passengers.
Typically, around 150 goods train rakes are loaded daily in the Dhanbad division. However, due to the current situation, loading has reduced by 20%.
Empty goods trains are stuck at power houses, preventing the return of new ones. As a result, only 120-125 rakes are being transported daily instead of the usual 150.
This decline comes at a crucial time, as February is an important month for freight loading and transportation.
Dhanbad Division Falls Behind Bilaspur in February
For several months, the Dhanbad division has been leading in freight loading across the country.
However, the disruption in February has caused it to fall slightly behind the Bilaspur Railway Division.
Despite this temporary setback, Dhanbad has maintained a lead of around four million tonnes over Bilaspur throughout the year.
Experts believe that by March 31, Dhanbad division will reclaim its top position in Indian Railways.
Heavy Ticket Refunds Due to Train Cancellations
The revenue loss isn’t just limited to freight; passenger ticket cancellations have also added to the financial setback.
At Dhanbad station’s reservation counter alone, an average of ₹2 to ₹2.25 lakh worth of ticket refunds has been processed daily over the past 10 days.
The number of refunds for online bookings is even higher. Many passengers canceled or postponed their travel plans due to train cancellations or overcrowding.
There has also been a significant drop in the sale of unreserved tickets. However, it is expected that both freight and passenger revenue will return to normal by March 1.
