Large-Scale Rail Block Disrupts Pune–Nagpur and Vidarbha Connectivity This Month
Large-Scale Rail Block Disrupts Pune–Nagpur and Vidarbha Connectivity This Month
Passengers travelling between Pune, Nagpur and several parts of Vidarbha are facing widespread inconvenience this month as Central Railway undertakes major infrastructure work on one of Maharashtra’s busiest rail corridors. A series of traffic and power blocks announced for the Daund–Manmad section has led to the cancellation of dozens of trains, affecting long-distance and premium services alike.
The disruption is linked to pre-non-interlocking (Pre-NI) and non-interlocking (NI) works being carried out under the Pune Division for the commissioning of the rail line doubling project between Daund and Kashti stations. According to railway officials, Pre-NI activities began on January 4 and will continue till January 23, followed by complete NI operations on January 24 and 25. The work is part of a long-term plan to increase line capacity and improve operational efficiency on the heavily used corridor.
As a consequence, rail services connecting Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra have been hit hard. At least nine key trains linking Nagpur, Amravati and Ajni with Pune have been cancelled on different dates, with the maximum impact expected on January 24 and 25. Rail connectivity between Pune and Nagpur, considered one of the busiest routes in the country, has been particularly affected.
Among the prominent cancellations are the Pune–Nagpur Garib Rath Express scheduled for January 24 and the Nagpur–Pune Garib Rath Express on January 25. The Nagpur–Pune Express also stands cancelled on January 24. Premium services have not been spared either, with both the Pune–Ajni Humsafar Express and the Ajni–Pune Humsafar Express cancelled for two consecutive days on January 24 and 25.
Services between Pune and Amravati have also faced multiple cancellations. The Pune–Amravati Express will not operate on January 24 and 25, while the Amravati–Pune Express has been cancelled on January 23 and 25. Additionally, the Amravati–Pune Express (Train No. 12119) and the Ajni–Pune Express (Train No. 12120) scheduled for January 24 and 25 have been withdrawn.
In total, officials have confirmed that as many as 22 trains running between Pune and Nagpur have been cancelled till January 26, 2026, due to the ongoing doubling work between Daund and Manmad. Over 30 trains across the Pune–Nagpur, Pune–Pandharpur and Pune–Amravati routes have been cancelled during the 22-day work period, while several others have been diverted.
The timing of the disruption has added to passenger distress, as it coincides with the wedding season and upcoming festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami and Republic Day. Thousands of travellers had already booked tickets well in advance on the busy Pune–Nagpur route to avoid last-minute hassles. With trains cancelled, many passengers—especially middle-class travellers—are now being forced to rely on private buses and other alternative transport options.
Central Railway has appealed to passengers to check train status before starting their journeys and plan accordingly. Officials emphasised that while the inconvenience is temporary, the completion of the doubling project on the Daund–Manmad section is expected to significantly enhance rail capacity and reliability on this crucial corridor in the long run.
