After Diwali, Indian Railways (IR) has rolled out a massive plan to handle the festive travel surge during Chhath Puja. Over the next five days—from October 23 to 28, 2025—the national transporter will operate around 1,500 special trains, averaging 300 daily departures to accommodate the heavy passenger rush.
This year, Chhath Puja falls between October 25 and 28, and IR’s efforts aim to ensure seamless travel for devotees returning home to celebrate the festival.
Festival Season Sees Record Train Operations
Between October 1 and November 30, 2025, Indian Railways will operate over 12,000 festival special trains across India—a significant jump from last year’s 7,724 services.
According to the Railway Ministry’s latest update, 11,865 trips covering 916 trains have been notified so far, comprising 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved services.
The expansion reflects IR’s continued commitment to easing congestion during India’s busiest travel period.
Key Routes for Chhath Puja Travelers
The Chhath Puja special trains will serve high-demand routes connecting major metros and homebound destinations. Some of the busiest corridors include:
- Mumbai–Gorakhpur
- New Delhi–Patna / Darbhanga
- Sabarmati–Muzaffarpur
- Barauni–Ernakulam
- Udhna–Jaynagar / Bhagalpur
- Kolkata–Gorakhpur / Mau / Jodhpur
Additionally, new services are running from Panvel to Chiplun, Rajkot to Barauni, and Indore to Mumbai Central, offering more options for festive travelers.
Railway Minister Reviews Passenger Arrangements
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw personally reviewed preparations at New Delhi and Anand Vihar stations last week. He inspected crowd management, holding areas, and passenger amenities to ensure safety and comfort.
With these measures and additional trains, the Railways aims to provide a smooth, secure, and festive travel experience during Chhath Puja and beyond.
