Line 1 shut at Gaya railway station, several trains diverted

Gaya: Train operations on line number one at Gaya railway station have been suspended for three weeks to facilitate redevelopment work aimed at transforming the station into a world-class facility with airport-like amenities. The suspension came into effect from zero hours on Tuesday and will continue till May 16.According to an East Central Railway (ECR) notification, several trains have been diverted and the composition of some services altered due to the suspension. The Patna-Cherapalli Summer Special will skip Gaya and run via Bandhua station.The Gaya-Kamakhya Express will now terminate at Manpur station. The train will be only dry cleaned at Manpur as watering facilities are not available there. Train number 6325, Patna-Dehri On Sone MEMU via Gaya, has also been rescheduled.The number of coaches has been reduced in several trains, including the Singrauli-Patna Express via Gaya, Rajgir-Patna Intercity via Gaya, Palamu Express and the Patna-Gaya Passenger.Railway authorities said operations are being suspended in phases to minimise inconvenience to passengers. Earlier, in Feb and March, operations were suspended on lines two and three.The project, however, is already behind schedule and was initially expected to be completed by the end of 2025. While the second entrance and exit on the Delha side has become operational with separate arrival and departure points, significant work remains pending.The Rs 300 crore project includes a 6,400 sq metre concourse, modern waiting halls, high-speed Wi-Fi, an upgraded announcement system, escalators, elevators and facilities for elderly and differently-abled passengers.