The Great Festive Rush
Every year, as Navratri, Durga Puja, and Diwali approach, a massive wave of people travels across India to celebrate with their families. This results in an overwhelming demand for train and bus tickets, with seats selling out months in advance and flight
prices soaring. The scramble often leaves many stranded or forced to pay exorbitant amounts for last-minute travel. It’s a period of joy and celebration, but the journey home can be a significant source of stress. Recognizing this annual challenge, transport authorities have begun rolling out special services designed to add capacity and provide more options for travellers during this peak season.
Indian Railways Adds Special Trains
To manage the heavy passenger traffic, Indian Railways has announced numerous special trains across its various zones. Northern Railway is running services connecting major cities in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Delhi. For instance, a festival special express between Varanasi and Delhi will operate on select days from October 2 to November 27. Other key routes include services from Ayodhya Cantt to Anand Vihar and Chandigarh to Patna.Central Railway has announced a massive 418 special train services to manage the rush for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, connecting Mumbai with destinations in several states. These include daily specials from Mumbai to Gorakhpur and weekly AC services to Chennai and Bengaluru. Similarly, Southern Railway has rolled out special trains connecting Chennai with Kollam, and Kanpur with Bengaluru, among others. Western Railway has also extended the operations of weekly special trains, such as the one between Dadar and Bhusaval, until late November to cater to the demand. Bookings for most of these services are already open via the IRCTC portal and reservation counters.
More Buses on Key Inter-State Routes
State road transport corporations are also stepping up. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced special inter-state services from October 14 to November 14 to handle the rush for Mahanavami, Vijayadashami, and Diwali. These buses will operate between various destinations in Kerala and major cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Chennai. Bookings can be made via the KSRTC website and its official app.Similarly, the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) is set to operate over 100 special buses connecting Bihar with Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. These services, which started on September 25, are aimed at providing affordable and accessible options for people travelling home for the festivals. The fleet will include a mix of AC sleeper, AC seater, and non-AC buses on crucial routes like Patna-Kolkata and Patna-Ghaziabad.
What About Flights and Local Travel?
While airlines often increase prices during high-demand periods, some have been adding capacity. SpiceJet recently announced 22 special flights to cater specifically to the Durga Puja travel demand. For those staying within their cities, local transport is also getting a boost. In Kolkata, for example, the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) plans to run buses all night during Durga Puja and is also organizing special 'puja parikrama' tours on buses, trams, and even vessels to see the famous pandals and heritage pujas. Private cab operators are also offering special packages for pandal hopping and outstation travel, often with fixed pricing to avoid surge charges during the festive peak.
Planning Your Festival Journey
With these new services available, the key to a stress-free journey is still planning. Experts advise booking tickets as early as possible, as even these special services fill up quickly. Always check the official websites of Indian Railways (IRCTC) and state transport corporations for the most accurate schedules and availability. For those driving, anticipate heavy traffic on highways, especially on the days immediately preceding and following major festival dates. By taking advantage of the additional services and planning ahead, travellers can hopefully spend less time worrying about the journey and more time enjoying the festivities with their loved ones.
