Several trains were cancelled or short-terminated for infrastructure upgrade at Sealdah station in Kolkata, West Bengal causing passengers hardship on Friday.
As many as 80 local trains were cancelled due to the upgrade-related work which included the length extension of five platforms to accommodate 12-coach EMU trains and an electronic interlocking system, an Eastern Railway official said.
The railway officer said that the three-day modernisation activity which started from the early hours of Friday, can cause a good number of trains to be cancelled on Saturday as well at Sealdah station.
However, operations have been suspended only in five platforms out of 21 at Sealdah station.
A total of 147 suburban train services will be short-terminated or short-originated, while 806 trains will continue to run during the upgrade work period. Four express trains will now originate and terminate at Kolkata station instead of Sealdah station, according to officials. These trains include the Sealdah-Ajmer Superfast Express, Hate Bajare Express, Sealdah-Balurghat Express, and Sealdah-Asansol Superfast Express.
With Friday being a working day, the cancellations and short terminations led to crowded trains and longer wait times for passengers at various stations.