Chhath Puja Rush: New Special Trains for Chennai to Bihar
Indian Railways launches new special trains from Chennai and Podanur to Bihar to manage the Chhath Puja passenger surge.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Chhath Puja festival, Indian Railways has announced the operation of several additional special trains. These new services are designed to help devotees travel more comfortably between southern India and the eastern regions.
New Special Train Routes Announced
Starting from November 11, three major new services will be operational to cater to the high demand. These include:
- Train No. 06131: From Chennai Central to Darbhanga
- Train No. 06133: From Chennai Central to Barauni
- Train No. 06135: From Podanur to Raxaul
These trains are scheduled to pass through several key stations, including Kharagpur, Asansol, Barauni, Dhanbad, and Sambalpur, ensuring better connectivity for passengers across multiple states.
Vande Bharat and Other Festive Services
In addition to the new routes, the railways are deploying high-speed options to manage the festive crowd. Special 16-coach Vande Bharat trains will run between New Delhi and Patna on November 11 and November 13.
Other ongoing special services to assist travelers include:
- Tatanagar–Chhapra: Train numbers 08185 and 08186
- Durg–Barauni: Train numbers 08755 and 08766
Advanced Technology for Crowd Management
To ensure passenger safety and manage the heavy footfall at stations, the railway administration has implemented high-tech monitoring systems. Approximately 700 AI-enabled cameras have been installed across major stations. Furthermore, 24-hour 'war rooms' have been activated at major transit hubs to monitor train operations and passenger movement in real-time.
"Indian Railways is operating a total of 18,000 special trains during this festive season, a significant increase from the 12,000 operated last year."
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the administration aims to run over 80,000 special trains throughout the current financial year to meet the growing demand for rail travel.
Traveler Advisory
Passengers are strongly advised to plan their journeys in advance. For real-time updates regarding specific schedules, fares, and stopovers, travelers should check the official IRCTC website or the NTES app.