The Ranchi–New Delhi Garib Rath Express was cancelled before its scheduled Friday departure because South Eastern Railway anticipated road traffic congestion near New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations during a protest planned at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, disrupting travel plans for passengers using the affordable long-distance service.
The Ranchi railway division of South Eastern Railway said in a statement that train 12877 was cancelled “in view of the possibility of road traffic congestion around New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations on Oct 10”. The service was scheduled to leave Ranchi station at 4:25 pm on Friday and reach New Delhi station at 11:10 am on Saturday.
The cancellation was linked to a scheduled protest by the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The party is seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The railway’s stated reason relates to road congestion around the two stations rather than a reported disruption on the rail route itself. The decision illustrates how a large public gathering in the capital can affect access to railway terminals, including for passengers whose journeys are not connected to the event.
A CJP supporter from Ranchi told The Times of India that the cancellation prevented him from travelling to New Delhi to participate in the protest. The supporter, who requested anonymity, said thousands of passengers had been affected and that many could not afford higher-priced airline tickets.
The Garib Rath service is used by passengers seeking lower-cost intercity travel, making a cancellation particularly consequential for those with limited alternatives. The available information does not specify whether replacement train services, refunds or alternative travel arrangements were announced for the affected passengers.
The cancellation also highlights the operational link between railway access and road conditions around major stations. New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin are important arrival points for passengers travelling to the capital, and congestion in their surrounding areas can affect the practical accessibility of rail journeys even when trains and tracks are not directly disrupted.
South Eastern Railway’s statement identified Oct 10 as the date on which congestion was anticipated and confirmed that the Ranchi–New Delhi service scheduled to depart on Friday would not operate. No further operational details were provided in the information available.
