Indian Railways To Run Over 12,000 Special Trains For Deepavali & Chhath Festivals

Indian Railways has announced that it will operate more than 12,000 special trains to accommodate the surge in passengers during the upcoming Deepavali and Chhath festivals.

This initiative aims to ensure smoother travel experiences amid one of the busiest festival seasons in India.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced consultations with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Members of Parliament Sanjay Jaiswal and Sanjay Kumar Jha, and Union Minister Lalan Singh.

Minister Vaishnaw confirmed that passengers undertaking onward journeys between 13 and 26 October, as well as return journeys from 17 November to 1 December, will be eligible for a 20% discount on return tickets.

The government designed this move to encourage ease of travel during the festival period, accommodating both outbound and inbound passengers.

“After consultations with senior public representatives, it was decided that over 12,000 special trains will be run for Deepavali and Chhath. At the same time, due care will be taken to ensure passengers face no difficulties during their return travel,” Vaishnaw said.

Introduction of New Train Services

In addition to the special trains, Indian Railways will launch four new Amrit Bharat Express routes.

These trains will connect Gaya to Delhi, Saharsa to Amritsar, Chhapra to Delhi, and Muzaffarpur to Hyderabad, significantly improving connectivity across these regions.

Indian Railways will also introduce a new circuit train dedicated to sites associated with Lord Buddha.

Catering primarily to middle-class families, this train will cover important locations such as Vaishali, Hajipur, Sonepur, Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, and Koderma.

Several infrastructure projects will complement the increase in train services. Indian Railways is expanding the Buxar–Lakhisarai rail section into a four-line corridor to facilitate greater train frequency.

Additionally, plans are underway to develop a ring railway system around Patna to ease urban transport congestion.

New rail links between Sultanganj and Deoghar, as well as a new service between Patna and Ayodhya, will further enhance regional connectivity.

Indian Railways will establish a washing pit facility at Laukaha Bazar to support maintenance operations.

Work will also commence on multiple newly approved road overbridges across Bihar, addressing traffic challenges and improving overall infrastructure.

This comprehensive plan by Indian Railways reflects a robust effort to manage the high travel demand during the festive season, ensuring convenience, affordability, and improved connectivity for passengers.

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