Diwali & Chhath Puja: Severe Train Seat Shortage Hits Passengers
Travelers face massive train seat shortages for Diwali and Chhath Puja, with long waiting lists on key routes to Bihar and Purvanchal.
Travelers preparing to return home for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath Puja festivals are facing a massive challenge. A severe shortage of train seats has emerged, with long waiting lists reported across major routes, leaving many passengers in a state of uncertainty.
Massive Demand for Purvanchal and Bihar Routes
The festive rush is particularly intense for individuals working in major metropolitan hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Gujarat who are attempting to travel to Purvanchal and Bihar. With Chhath Puja scheduled to take place from November 12 to November 15, the demand for travel is overwhelming.
Data from the IRCTC website indicates extensive waiting lists for numerous trains through November 15, with several dates even showing a 'regret' status. Despite the operation of festival special trains, the current demand continues to significantly outpace available capacity.
Key Trains Facing Extreme Shortages
Several high-priority trains on critical routes are currently reporting no confirmed availability for passengers:
- New Delhi to Varanasi Route: Despite more than 15 trains operating this route, securing a ticket remains difficult. The Vande Bharat Express (22436) has no availability in Chair Car or Executive Class until November 14, and the Rajdhani Express (20504) is also fully booked. Other affected services include the Amrit Bharat, Anand Vihar-Patliputra Special (04096), and the Shramjeevi Express.
- Mumbai to Purvanchal Route: The Shivganga Express is fully booked across both Sleeper and AC coaches. The Mahamana Express is seeing long waiting lists, while the Mahanagari Express has seen waitlists exceeding 100.
- LTT to Gorakhpur and Jaynagar: Passengers on the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Gorakhpur (15017) and Jaynagar (11061) routes are also struggling to find confirmed seats.
- Other Impacted Services: Travelers are also facing difficulties on the Kamayani Express and the Gorakhpur-Dadar Express.
Railway Administration Responds to Crisis
To provide relief to the thousands of stranded commuters, the railway administration is looking into increasing capacity. Arpit Gupta, the Varanasi Station Director, stated that additional special trains will be arranged following directives from the railway administration to assist passengers traveling for the festivals.