Railways Likely to Run Nearly 6,000 Special Trains This Festive Season: Vaishnaw

New Delhi: As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has decided to run nearly 6,000 special trains to help more than one crore passengers get home for the Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals.

Several train routes, particularly those destined for Bihar , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal witnessed heavy rush during these festivals.

A total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year's festival season, up from 4,429 last year, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a select group of journalists in New Delhi.

"This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush," he said.

Durga Puja starts on October 9, followed by Diwali which will be celebrated on October 31, while Chhath Puja will take place on November 7 and 8 this year.

Officials indicated that the number of special trains may increase further if there is a higher demand.

Additionally, 108 trains will have extra general coaches added, and 12,500 new coaches have been approved for construction, set to be incorporated into various trains over the next one to two years.

(With PTI inputs)