Indian Railways to introduce 6000 special trains to meet the October festival rush
October is the month of festivals. With major Indian festivals such as Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja lined up, the Indian Railways has announced plans to launch nearly 6000 special trains to meet the passenger rush. These special trains will accommodate the surge in demand for travel during these festivals.
It’s not the first time that Indian Railways has taken such a measure. Every year, lakhs of people travel to their hometowns to celebrate these festivals with their families. It leads to a huge rush in the need for transportation. In response to this high demand, Indian Railways has decided to introduce special trains to serve over one crore (10 million) passengers during this period.
Some of the routes with highest demand during these festivals are mainly those leading to states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal as these destinations are the hubs for the celebration. Durga Puja, one of the prime Indian festivals, will begin on October 6, followed by Diwali on November 1, and Chhath Puja on November 7 and 8.
However, the exact routes, dates, and timings for these trains have not yet been officially announced. But Indian Railways has already indicated plans to enhance the travel experience for passengers. Along with the introduction of these special trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the number of general coaches will be increased for 108 regular trains on popular routes.
Minister Vaishnaw also said that these trains will greatly benefit passengers, with the extra trains and coaches facilitating the movement of over one crore travellers. Indian Railways has already announced the deployment of 5,975 special trains for this season. For comparison, last year saw the operation of 4,429 special trains during the festive period, highlighting the increase in capacity this year.
For Diwali and Chhath Puja, an additional 12,500 coaches will be provided, ensuring a more comfortable and accessible journey. Given the importance of trains in India’s public transport system, especially during festive times, booking tickets can become a challenge due to high demand.
The move to run more special trains is a well-received initiative, helping to alleviate the rush and ensuring that more passengers can travel home to celebrate the festivals with their families.