Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces 2024 Extra Puja Special Train Trips to Ensure Smooth Festive Travel

New Delhi– As the festive season begins, passenger numbers on Indian Railways typically rise. To meet this increased demand, Indian Railways has decided to operate thousands of special train services to ensure smooth travel for passengers. Over 12,000 trains are planned to operate for travelers heading to Bihar, and notifications for these services have already begun to be issued.

From 21 September to 30 November 2025, a total of 150 Puja Special trains will operate, providing 2024 additional trips. This initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted travel across the country during the festival season, allowing passengers to celebrate with their loved ones. These trains will enhance connectivity between metropolitan cities and rural areas, especially across North, East, and South India.

Under the Puja Special train series:

• South Central Railway will operate the most, with 48 trains completing 684 trips, mainly from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and Vijayawada.
• East Central Railway has notified 14 trains passing through major Bihar stations like Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur, totaling 588 trips.
• East Railway will run 24 special trains from busy stations like Kolkata, Sealdah, and Howrah, covering 198 trips.
• Western Railway has announced 24 special trains from Mumbai, Surat, and Vadodara, completing 204 trips.
• Southern Railway will operate 10 trains from Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai, covering 66 trips.

Additionally, special trains will operate connecting stations like Bhubaneswar, Puri, Sambalpur (East Coast Railway); Ranchi, Tatanagar (South East Railway); Prayagraj, Kanpur (North Central Railway); Bilaspur, Raipur (South East Central Railway); and Bhopal, Kota (West Central Railway).

Detailed information regarding train lists, schedules, routes, and stops is available on the Indian Railways official website, IRCTC, and nearby railway stations. Passengers are urged to book in advance and ensure ticket confirmation, and follow safety and hygiene guidelines issued by the Ministry of Railways during travel.