As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has announced the operation of nearly 6,000 special trains to facilitate the journey home for more than one crore passengers during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath festivals. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared this information with a select group of journalists, emphasizing the railway’s commitment to managing the increased passenger demand during this busy time.
Additional Coaches to Meet Passenger Demand
In addition to the special trains, the Railways has added extra general coaches to 108 trains, with a total of 12,500 coaches sanctioned to accommodate the surge in passengers typically witnessed during these festivals. Vaishnaw highlighted the notable increase in special trains compared to previous years, stating that a total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year’s festival season, up from 4,429 last year. This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush, he added.
The announcement comes as several train routes, particularly those headed to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, are expected to experience heavy rushes during the festive period. The minister also mentioned the festival dates
Durga Puja begins on October 9, Diwali will be celebrated on October 31, while Chhath Puja will take place on November 7 and 8 this year.