Chhath Puja, Diwali Festival: Indian Railways to Operate 7,000 Special Trains

Indian Railways is set to run 7,000 special trains during the upcoming festival season, providing good news for travelers. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that these additional trains will accommodate an extra 200,000 passengers daily.

Diwali begins on October 28, followed by Chhath Puja on November 5. To meet passenger demand, Western Railway is operating 2,602 trips of 73 pairs of Festival Special Trains originating from cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Udhna, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara, heading to various destinations.

The Northern Railway is also gearing up to manage the festive rush, particularly as many travelers head to eastern India. Last year, 4,500 special trains were run for Diwali and Chhath Puja. Given the expected increase in passenger numbers this year, officials have decided to expand the services. Northern Railway plans to operate around 3,050 trips of special trains to assist passengers in reaching their destinations.

In addition to these travel arrangements, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two significant railway projects with a total estimated cost of ₹6,798 crore. These projects will enhance the Indian Railways network by about 313 kilometers, covering eight districts across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar.

The new line project will connect approximately 168 villages and benefit around 1.2 million people, with the addition of nine new stations. Furthermore, the multi-tracking project aims to improve connectivity to Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur, serving about 388 villages and 900,000 residents. These routes are crucial for transporting essential commodities such as agricultural products, fertilizers, coal, iron ore, steel, and cement.

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