Chakradharpur, August 29,2026: Rail passengers in Manoharpur and surrounding areas of West Singhbhum are set to get improved connectivity after the Railway Board approved a halt for the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express (18189/18190) at Manoharpur station on a trial basis.
The approval was issued by the Railway Board on August 27, 2026, following a demand raised by Singhbhum MP Joba Majhi regarding the lack of a halt for the important train at Manoharpur.
The Railway Board has directed the concerned railway zone to introduce the halt from a convenient date and ensure that information about the facility is prominently displayed at ticket counters and communicated to passengers.
Joba Majhi raised the demand at railway meeting
Majhi had raised the issue during the Divisional Railway Members’ Committee meeting held in Ranchi on January 22, 2026.
At the meeting, she reportedly raised the demand before the Railway General Manager and Divisional Railway Manager, highlighting the need for the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express to stop at Manoharpur.
She pointed out that a large number of people from Manoharpur and nearby rural areas travel to southern India and other states for employment, education, medical treatment and other purposes. A halt at Manoharpur, she said, would make such journeys more convenient.
Railway Board issues approval for trial halt
An order issued by Rajesh Kumar, Joint Director (Coaching), Railway Board, grants approval for the 18189/18190 Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express to halt at Manoharpur on a trial basis.
The concerned railway zone has been asked to begin the halt from a suitable date. The order also calls for information about the new stoppage to be widely displayed at ticket-selling centres and communicated to passengers.
The source material does not specify the date from which the trial halt will actually begin.
Passengers travelling to southern India expected to benefit
The new stoppage is expected to benefit passengers from Manoharpur, Anandpur, Goilkera, Sonua and nearby areas.
People travelling to southern India for work are among those expected to gain from the facility, as they may no longer need to travel to distant stations to board the train. Students, traders, patients and their accompanying family members are also expected to benefit.
For the Manoharpur region, the train is likely to provide an additional long-distance travel option once the approved halt becomes operational.
Approval welcomed by local residents
The Railway Board’s decision has been welcomed in the area, where residents had been seeking a halt for the train for a long time.
Local residents have credited Majhi’s efforts in raising the demand at the divisional railway meeting. The approval now clears the way for the Tatanagar-Ernakulam Express to stop at Manoharpur on a trial basis, although the operational start date is yet to be specified in the information available.
