In a major move to manage the festive travel surge, the Indian Railways has announced the deployment of 1,500 additional special trains over the next five days to cater to the growing number of passengers travelling home for Chhath Puja.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the move comes as part of a large-scale operational plan designed to ensure smoother travel during India’s busiest festive season. Over the past 21 days, the railways have already run 4,493 special train trips — averaging 213 trips per day, primarily aimed at helping passengers reach their hometowns for Diwali celebrations.
The current festive travel plan spans October 1 to November 30, 2025, covering a 61-day period of intensified operations. During this time, more than 12,000 special trains are being scheduled across India to accommodate passenger demand.
So far, 11,865 trips have already been announced, operating across 916 trains, which include 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved services. The ministry said this strategy ensures both affordability and accessibility, catering to travellers across income groups and regions.
The railways also highlighted a sharp rise in the number of special trains compared to the previous festive season. In 2024, 7,724 Puja and Diwali special trains were operated, a figure that has now grown by more than 55%. The upcoming Chhath Puja, especially significant in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, typically witnesses one of the largest seasonal migrations in the country.
