Indian Railways to Operate Over 500 Special Trains for Chhath Puja Return Rush

The Railway Board announced over 500 special trains to manage the post-Chhath Puja travel rush starting 8 November. These trains will help people return from their hometowns. Additional services are planned from Samastipur, Danapur, and other divisions to meet local needs, according to a press statement.

On 4 November, Indian Railways transported a record 120.72 lakh passengers in one day. This included 19.43 lakh reserved and 101.29 lakh unreserved non-suburban travellers, surpassing the combined populations of Australia and New Zealand. Suburban traffic also hit a yearly high with 180 lakh passengers.

Special Trains for Chhath Puja

The Railway Board has scheduled 164 special trains for 8 November to handle the Chhath Puja rush. Following this, 160 trains will run on 9 November, 161 on 10 November, and 155 on 11 November. This plan ensures adequate capacity for the expected increase in travellers during the festive season.

From October 1 to November 30, Indian Railways announced a total of 7,724 special trains to meet festival travel demands. This marks a significant increase of 73% compared to last year's 4,429 trains. The aim is to provide seamless travel during this peak period.

Record Passenger Numbers

In the past four days, Indian Railways has operated an average of 175 special trains daily for Chhath Puja travellers. Over the last 36 days, they transported 65 lakh passengers on 4,521 special trains. These services have been vital for smooth travel during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja celebrations.

The Railway Board highlighted these efforts as crucial in managing increased travel demand during the festive season. The substantial expansion in train services aims to ensure that passengers can reach their destinations comfortably and efficiently.

This extensive arrangement by Indian Railways reflects their commitment to facilitating travel during one of the busiest times of the year. By increasing train availability significantly, they aim to accommodate the surge in passenger numbers effectively.