Several long-distance trains linking Mumbai with New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin have been cancelled or delayed on 10 October after railway authorities issued operational changes ahead of a planned protest in the national capital. The disruption affects services operated by Western Railway and Central Railway, with passengers advised to check revised train status before starting their journeys.
According to a report by Navbharat Times – Mumbai, the railway decision followed a message from the Railway Board warning of possible severe road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm. The report said 38 mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at the two stations during that period had been cancelled. Services to other railway stations in Delhi were reported to be operating normally.
Western Railway said the Mumbai Central–New Delhi Rajdhani Express (12951) and the Mumbai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin August Kranti Rajdhani Express (12953) would run five hours late. The Bandra Terminus–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (12247) and the Mumbai Central–Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express were cancelled, according to the report.
Other services listed as cancelled included the Dr Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Express (20155), Indore–Hazrat Nizamuddin Express (09309), Indore–New Delhi Express (12415) and Sabarmati–New Delhi Express (12957). Central Railway also cancelled the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus–Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express (22221).
The disruption has a wider geographic footprint because Western Railway’s jurisdiction covers Gujarat and parts of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, in addition to its Mumbai operations. As a result, the impact extends beyond passengers boarding in Mumbai to travellers using connecting services and trains originating from stations across the western and central parts of the network.
The protest was planned at Jantar Mantar over demands concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities linked to electoral-roll procedures. The supplied report also quoted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticising the railway and other service restrictions, describing them as an attempt to impose a shutdown. Those political allegations and characterisations were not independently established in the supplied material.
For passengers whose trains have been cancelled, a Western Railway spokesperson said the fare would be refunded. The advisory also asked passengers to verify updated timings before travelling, particularly those booked on trains scheduled to terminate at New Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin. Railway authorities said many other trains on the Central Railway and Western Railway networks continued to reach their destinations despite the anticipated disruption around the Delhi stations.
