If the DC line were to close again tomorrow, how prepared is the Indian Railways (IR) to accommodate the trains? 1. For trains in the DHN-BKSC-RNC section: a) Have a loop line at GMO. Not practical for a large number of trains like 12019/12020/12831/12832. Urgently need a GMO bypass or a Y leg at TELO. b) Have loop lines at DHN and BJE and use the CRP/IPTN line. Not feasible as BJE is a small station and unless bypass cabins are built at BJE and SDMD and IPTN lines are fully doubled. A loop at Dhanbad is probably necessary as there is no space to build a satellite station, and Pradhankunta, although close to Govindpur, is far from the city center. c) Completely bypass DHN and use the BKSC-CRP/IPTN-JOC-ASN route. Partially feasible as trains like Malda Surat have used this line before, but there are significant problems for trains like Patliputra which use STN bypass and will have to take a loop at ASN. An ASN bypass through BCQ is needed, but BCQ is closer and more accessible to the main ASN city. d) Bypass both BKSC and DHN and use the KSX-PRR-ASN line. Not feasible as, in addition to the problems in point c, an extra loop will have to be done at PRR. A satellite station is needed between GTD and CHRA, but again it will be far from the main PRR town. An ASN bypass is also needed for trains like Patliputra. e) Use the BRKA-KQR-GMO-DHN line, but it would be a very long route. 2. For trains in the DHN-BRKA section: a) Have a loop line at GMO. A Y leg at TELO is most suitable or a GMO bypass is needed. b) Have a loop line at BJE and use the CRP line. Not practical as the train will move from ECR to SER and then back to ECR. Also, all points for 1b are applicable. c) Bypass DHN and use the ASN-BJE-CRP line. Difficult as the train moves from ER to SER to ECR, but occasionally done. Difficult as ASN-BURN is very congested. d) Use the BRKA-KQR-GMO-DHN line, but it would be a very long route. In my opinion, the Indian Railways is completely unprepared and it is a disaster waiting to happen. What do you think?