Indian Railways has unveiled a comprehensive operational plan to assist millions of pilgrims, specifically Kanwariyas, traveling for the Shravani Mela 2026. The pilgrimage, which runs from July 30 to August 29, 2026, is set to see a massive influx of devotees. To ensure seamless travel, the national transporter is introducing special trains, augmenting coach capacity, and modifying train halts at key stations to manage the anticipated crowd surge effectively.
Key highlights of the Shravani Mela 2026 railway plan:
- Temporary extension of halt times to five minutes at Jasidih and Sultanganj stations.
- Introduction of 24 Mela Special trains, including Jayanagar-Asansol and Raxaul-Deoghar services.
- Addition of one extra general second-class coach to popular trains to handle high passenger volume.
- Deployment of 400 additional security personnel to ensure passenger safety.
Operational Changes and Train Halts
Eastern Railway CPRO Shibram Manjhi confirmed that to accommodate the heavy footfall, trains with scheduled halts of less than five minutes will now stop for five minutes at Jasidih and Sultanganj between July 30 and August 29. Please note that premium services like Rajdhani and Vande Bharat Express are exempt from these changes. Furthermore, six major weekly express trains have been granted a two-minute temporary halt at Sultanganj to improve connectivity for pilgrims.
Special Trains and Enhanced Security
To streamline transit, 24 Mela Special trains will operate via Sultanganj. Notable services include the Jayanagar-Asansol, Raxaul-Deoghar, and Itwari-Madhupur Shravani Mela Specials. These trains are scheduled to run on specific dates throughout the mela period.
Safety remains a top priority for the Malda Division. Railway Police Superintendent Vidyasagar has confirmed that security personnel will be deployed on every Mela Special train. A force of 400 additional police officers, including 10 inspector-rank personnel, will be stationed across crucial transit points, with 300 officers stationed specifically at Sultanganj.
Malda Division DRM Manish Kumar Gupta has urged all travelers to verify their train schedules via official channels before heading to the station. Passengers are also requested to cooperate with railway staff and follow all security guidelines to ensure a safe and spiritual journey during this year’s Shravani Mela.