The East Central Railway (ECR) has announced the extension of 28 special trains to manage the heavy rush of passengers returning to their workplaces after the Holi festival. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra confirmed that this decision follows the observation of long waiting lists on regular services like the Sampoorna Kranti and Magadh Express. These 14 pairs of trains will provide significant relief to commuters traveling from Bihar and Jharkhand to major metros.
Detailed Schedule and Extended Dates for Special Trains
The extended services connect major stations such as Patna, Danapur, Muzaffarpur, and Dhanbad to destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune. Most of these trains will operate until the end of March or the first week of April 2026. The railway administration has ensured that the coach composition, including AC, Sleeper, and General classes, remains the same as the original schedule.
| Train Number | Route | Frequency | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03293/03294 | Patna – New Delhi | Daily | March 31 |
| 03257/03258 | Danapur – Anand Vihar | Weekly | March 30 |
| 03697/03698 | Sheikhpura – Anand Vihar | 4 days/week | March 31 |
| 01143/01144 | Lokmanya Tilak – Danapur | Daily | April 1 |
| 01449/01450 | Pune – Danapur | Daily | April 2 |
| 05219/05220 | Muzaffarpur – Anand Vihar | Weekly | March 28 |
| 05575/05576 | Saharsa – Anand Vihar | Weekly | March 26 |
| 04065/04066 | Purnia Court – Anand Vihar | Bi-weekly | March 29 |
| 04517/04518 | Dhanbad – Chandigarh | Weekly | March 29 |
| 06021/06022 | Pothanur – Barauni | Selected Dates | March 26 |
Important Information on Ticket Booking and Fare
Tickets for these extended services are now available for booking through the IRCTC website, the mobile app, and at PRS reservation counters. These trains are categorized under Special Fare rules, which means the ticket prices are generally 10% to 30% higher than regular Mail or Express fares, similar to Tatkal pricing. It is important for passengers to note that standard concessions are typically not applicable on these special trains. To manage the crowd at stations like Patna and Danapur, additional security personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth boarding and passenger safety.