Frequent cancellations and diversions of trains have emerged as a significant concern for both passengers and railway authorities, resulting in substantial losses amounting to approximately ₹95 crore over nine months for South Central Railway (SCR) and East Coast Railway (ECoR) combined.

The sudden cancellation or diversion of trains, often attributed to safety works or other operational reasons, has led to immense inconvenience for passengers and substantial financial setbacks for the railways. According to information obtained under the RTI by Kanchumurthi Eswar, secretary of the Duvvada Railway Users Association, SCR alone diverted a staggering total of 1,440 passenger trains between April and December 2023.

For SCR, the losses due to train cancellations in the reserved segment amount to ₹54,73,85,838, with an additional loss of ₹5,48,99,913 due to train diversions during the same period. The cumulative revenue loss for SCR stands at approximately ₹60.22 crore. Similarly, ECoR suffered losses amounting to ₹35,37,61,642 due to train cancellations between April and December 2023.

The impact of these cancellations is particularly severe for passengers relying on these trains for daily commutes, such as students, employees, and businesses. Monthly Season Ticket-holders (MST) face financial losses as they purchase tickets in advance, only to face last-minute cancellations and resort to costly alternative transport options.

Some of the cancelled trains include popular routes like Visakhapatnam - Guntur Simhadri Express, AC Double Decker UDAY Express, and Machilipatnam to Visakhapatnam, among others. Katam SS Chandra Rao, honorary president of the Duvvada Railway Users Association, suggests exploring alternatives such as partial cancellations to mitigate the inconvenience faced by reserved passengers.

The collective impact of these disruptions not only affects passengers but also underscores the need for better coordination and proactive measures by railway authorities to minimize losses and ensure seamless travel experiences for passengers.

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