Chhath Puja Rush: Special Trains from Punjab & Haryana to Bihar & UP
Indian Railways launches Chhath Puja special trains from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to Bihar and UP to manage the festive rush.
To accommodate the massive surge in passenger traffic, Chhath Puja special trains have been launched by Indian Railways, connecting Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to major destinations in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. These services, managed by the Northern and East Central divisions, aim to provide seamless travel for devotees during the festive season.
Key Special Services for the Festive Season
To ease the travel burden, several specific train services have been initiated. The 04670 Ludhiana-Katihar Special is one such service, routing through Yamunanagar Jagadhri, Saharanpur, and Moradabad, with a scheduled transit at Ambala.
Another major service is the 04672 Cheharta-Jaynagar Special. This train offers extensive connectivity across the region, making stops at:
- Amritsar and Beas
- Jalandhar City and Phagwara
- Dhandari Kalan and Sirhind
- Rajpura and Ambala
- Yamunanagar Jagadhri and Saharanpur
- Moradabad and Bareilly
- Sitapur and Gorakhpur
Connecting Chandigarh to the East
Passengers traveling from Chandigarh have several dedicated options to reach the eastern states. A special service is currently operating from Chandigarh to Mau, which includes a halt at Ambala Cantt. Additionally, the 04538 Chandigarh-Barauni Reserved Special provides a vital link, passing through:
- Ambala Cantt and Yamunanagar-Jagadhri
- Saharanpur and Moradabad
- Bareilly and Lucknow
- Raebareli and Maa Belha Devi Dham Pratapgarh
- Varanasi and Ghazipur City
- Ballia and Chhapra
For those seeking more flexibility, an unreserved special train from Chandigarh to Katihar has also been deployed. Furthermore, the 04656 Ludhiana-Saharsa Festival Special is part of the broader effort to manage the seasonal influx.
Managing Station Crowds and Passenger Demand
To prevent overcrowding at major stations, Northern Railway has also introduced unreserved festival specials. A notable example is the 04456 service from Anand Vihar Terminal to Bhagalpur, designed to mitigate the heavy rush during the peak October-December window.
Railway officials have emphasized that these deployment decisions are not static; they are based on daily reviews of passenger demand at various stations to ensure that capacity meets the actual needs of the traveling public.
Upcoming Changes in Train Numbering
While managing the current festive rush, the railways are also looking toward long-term administrative updates. Effective January 1, 2027, a new numbering system will be introduced for 24 trains, which includes the Chandigarh-Patliputra Express.