Indian Railways has cancelled several Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10, citing the likelihood of severe road traffic congestion ahead of a planned protest in Delhi.
The cancellations apply to trains leaving their originating stations after 2 pm on October 9 and scheduled to reach either of the two stations during the affected time window, according to railway sources cited by Economic Times. The measure is intended to prevent passengers from being stranded outside or unable to reach trains because of traffic restrictions and congestion around the capital’s major railway terminals.
Services affected include the Sealdah–New Delhi Rajdhani Express and the CSMT–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express. The report said additional cancellations have also been announced separately by railway divisions, meaning the impact extends beyond the services identified in the initial railway advisory.
The decision followed intelligence inputs and traffic advisories warning of possible disruption around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations, the report said. Divisional Railway Managers have issued updates through their official social media accounts, which passengers are expected to monitor for service-specific information.
The disruption is linked to a planned protest in Delhi on October 10. Authorities anticipate heavy traffic in areas surrounding the railway stations, raising concerns that passengers could face difficulty reaching terminals even when trains are operating. The situation demonstrates how road congestion and public-order arrangements can affect long-distance rail operations, particularly at stations that serve as major entry points into the capital.
The reported cancellations follow disruption for passengers during earlier protests and traffic jams in Delhi. IANS, cited in the report, said around 5,000 passengers missed trains on Thursday amid protests and congestion in the city. That experience has added urgency to efforts to manage arrivals during the latest protest-related traffic alert.
The Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat service is also likely to be suspended, although further details were still awaited at the time of the report. Railway divisions are expected to provide additional service-level announcements through their official channels as the October 10 traffic and security arrangements are finalised.
