Konkan Railway has decided not to operate the Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) car service for private vehicles during the Ganesh festival in 2026. The railway administration took this step after seeing a very low response from passengers last year. Instead, the focus will now shift toward running a large number of special trains to handle the holiday rush.
Why was the Ro-Ro car service stopped
Konkan Railway Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha confirmed that the car Ro-Ro service did not attract enough users. In the previous year, there were fewer than 20 bookings for the service. The railway had set a requirement of at least 40 cars per trip to make the service viable, but the demand remained low.
Plan for special trains and passenger rush
To manage the heavy crowd between Mumbai and the Konkan region, Konkan Railway will operate nearly 400 special trains. This will help passengers travel more easily during the festival peak. The administration aims to ensure smooth movement for devotees heading home for the celebrations.
Important dates for ticket bookings
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on September 14th. Passengers can book their tickets according to the following schedule:
| Travel Date | Booking Start Date |
|---|---|
| September 11 | July 13, 2026 |
| September 12 | July 14, 2026 |
| September 13 | July 15, 2026 |
| September 17 (Gauri arrival) | July 19, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the Ro-Ro car service not available for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026?
The service was cancelled due to low demand, with fewer than 20 bookings reported last year, falling short of the required 40 cars per trip.
When do ticket reservations start for the 2026 Ganesh festival?
Regular ticket reservations for the Konkan Railway route will begin on July 13, 2026, for travel starting from September 11.