News Brief
Indian Railways To Operate 12,000 Special Trains For Diwali, Chhath: Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw inspecting ‘Kavach,’ the indigenously developed automatic train protection system (Representative Image)
Indian Railways (IR) has announced plans to run 12,000 special trains across the country during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals to manage the surge in passenger demand, reported Indian Express.
These additional services aim to help people reach their hometowns during the festive season and provide extra berths for those unable to secure seats on regular trains.
On Wednesday (20 August), Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed preparations in a meeting with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Union Minister Lallan Singh, and MPs Dr Sanjay Jaiswal and Sanjay Kumar Jha.
He confirmed that extensive arrangements are being made for the smooth movement of passengers during the festive rush.
“It should also be kept in mind that our passengers should also get convenience in the return journey. After discussion with public representatives, it was decided that 12 thousand special trains should be run for the upcoming Diwali and Chhath. At the same time, it should also be kept in mind that our passengers should get convenience in the return journey,” Vaishnaw said, as quoted by the Indian Express.
The scheme offers rebates for passengers booking onward and return journeys together for the same group of travellers. Passenger details must remain identical for both bookings to avail the discount.
In the past year, Indian Railways operated nearly 13,500 special train trips during Holi and the summer season.
For Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath in 2024, close to 8,000 trips served nearly 1.8 crore passengers.
Earlier this year, more than 17,300 special trains were run during the Maha Kumbh, carrying over 4.2 crore passengers.
