Indian Railways announces 262 special trains for Ganesh Chaturthi starting September 9

Indian Railways will operate 262 special train services to manage the heavy passenger rush during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival on September 14, 2026. This major initiative by Central Railway provides comfortable and affordable travel options for passengers heading toward Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, the Konkan region, and Goa, helping them avoid high prices charged by private buses during the festive season. The special operations begin on September 9, 2026, and include 200 reserved and 62 unreserved trains. Specific destination distributions feature 112 services to Sawantwadi Road, 64 services to Ratnagiri, and 24 services to Madgaon in Goa. Railway officials confirm that over 1.17 lakh tickets are already booked for the reserved services. Travelling by these special trains offers massive savings, as a family of four can complete a journey in sleeper or unreserved coaches for just ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, compared to private bus fares surging between ₹2,500 and ₹4,000.

Passenger Convenience and Safety Measures

To handle massive crowds at railway stations smoothly, the authorities have set up additional ticket counters, dedicated waiting areas, and streamlined queue management systems. Extra personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) along with ticket checking staff will be deployed across major stations to maintain order and passenger safety. Passengers travelling during this festive rush are strongly advised to carry valid identification and reach the station at least 30 minutes prior to departure to avoid any last-minute rush and delays.