Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces 12,000+ Special Trains for Diwali & Chhath

New Delhi, August 21, 2025: Indian Railways will operate more than 12,000 special trains to handle the festive rush during Diwali and Chhath this year. Making the announcement at Rail Bhawan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said passengers will not only benefit from increased train services but also from a 20% discount on return tickets. The concession will be available for those travelling between October 13 and 26 on onward journeys and between November 17 and December 1 on their return. The minister stressed that the decision was taken after detailed discussions with Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Union Minister Lalan Singh, MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, and MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, keeping in mind the heavy travel demand during the festive season.

Vaishnaw further revealed that four new Amrit Bharat Express trains will soon connect Bihar with Delhi, Amritsar, and Hyderabad. These include services from Gaya to Delhi, Saharsa to Amritsar, Chhapra to Delhi, and Muzaffarpur to Hyderabad. In addition, a Vande Bharat Express will run between Purnia and Patna, offering faster connectivity for passengers in the state. The minister also announced the launch of a Buddhist Circuit train covering Vaishali, Hajipur, Sonepur, Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, and Koderma, which will particularly cater to middle-class families interested in affordable religious and heritage travel.

In terms of infrastructure, Indian Railways is planning a major expansion in Bihar. The Buxar–Lakhisarai section will be converted into a four-line corridor to facilitate smoother operations and higher train frequency. A ring railway system is also set to be developed around Patna, easing congestion within the city. Sultanganj and Deoghar will soon be connected by a new rail link, while Patna will gain a direct train service to Ayodhya. Vaishnaw added that a washing pit facility will be set up at Laukaha Bazar, alongside the construction of several newly approved road overbridges across Bihar.

The announcements were welcomed by Bihar leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, and MP Sanjay Kumar Jha. They expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sanctioning multiple new projects and train services for the state, which they said would improve connectivity, boost regional development, and make festive travel more convenient for millions of passengers.