As many as 6000 special trains will be added to the existing fleet of the Indian Railways during the upcoming festive season to help clear the increased rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told press.
“This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush,” Vaishnaw said.
Additional 12,500 general coaches, which are to be added to 108 trains, have also been sanctioned to take care of the increased number of travelers during the festive season, the minister added.
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.
A number of train routes, especially those destined for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal witness heavy rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals.
In line with the Indian Railways, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), has also announced to operate 26 special trains to facilitate a smooth travel experience and accommodate excess footfall of passengers during the rom October 1 to November 30, reports said.
The special trains would cover important destinations like Amritsar, Gorakhpur, Bengaluru, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Anand Vihar and Shri Ganganagar among others, chief public relations officer of the NFR told media persons.
The said trains are also expected to boost connectivity in the North East region, and areas like Agartala, Silchar, Naharlagun, New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Katihar would be covered by the trains.
NFR has almost doubled the number of trains and trips this year in comparison to last year, they added.
Notably, the Indian Railways operates special trains every year during the festive season, beginning October.
Despite a number of trains running from Delhi to Bihar, securing a confirmed seat during festivals remains a constant challenge.
A large number of people travel to Bihar during Diwali and Chhath Puja, forcing authorities to make special arrangements.
The Union Railway Minister assured people that everything needed to ensure that everyone willing to visit the loved ones during the festivities gets ticket.