Eastern Railway has announced a massive boost to connectivity for pilgrims attending the Shravani Mela in 2026. To ensure safe and convenient travel for devotees, the railway zone will operate **128 unreserved special train services** connecting Asansol with Patna and Gorakhpur. These services are scheduled to run daily from **July 29 to August 29, 2026**, with select services extended until August 30 or September 12 to accommodate the heavy rush.
- 128 total services: 64 trips each on the Asansol-Patna and Asansol-Gorakhpur routes.
- Train Schedule: 03511/03512 (Asansol-Patna) and 03527/03528 (Asansol-Gorakhpur).
- Ticketing: Services consist exclusively of General Second Class coaches; tickets available at counters or via the UTS app.
- Station Upgrades: Jasidih station features a massive 80,000 sq ft pandal and enhanced pilgrim facilities.
Detailed Train Timings
The 03511 Asansol-Patna Shravani Mela Special departs Asansol daily at **5:00 PM**, reaching Patna at **2:30 AM**. The return 03512 Patna-Asansol Special leaves Patna at **3:30 AM** and arrives at Asansol at **1:00 PM**. For those traveling to Uttar Pradesh, the 03527 Asansol-Gorakhpur Special departs Asansol at **9:00 PM**, arriving in Gorakhpur at **11:00 AM**. Its return counterpart, 03528, leaves Gorakhpur at **4:15 PM** and reaches Asansol at **8:20 AM** the following day.
Enhanced Passenger Facilities and Security
Key stations including **Chittaranjan, Madhupur, Jasidih, and Simulthala** will see increased traffic. Jasidih is being transformed into a primary transit hub, equipped with an expansive 80,000 sq ft temporary pandal, systematic queue management, and essential amenities like medical centers, ATMs, and clean restrooms.
To ensure passenger safety, Eastern Railway has ramped up security with increased Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) deployment. The station will be under 24/7 CCTV surveillance, and vehicle entry into the Jasidih station premises will be restricted during the mela period to manage crowds effectively. Pilgrims are advised to utilize the UTS mobile app for quick ticketing to avoid queues at the station.