Railways gears up to tackle Holi rush

Patna: With passenger traffic surging ahead of the Holi festival, the railways has prepared a contingency plan to manage the festive rush and ease travel hardships. As part of the plan, several special trains will soon be introduced on the most crowded long-distance routes connecting Patna and other parts of Bihar.

According to the railways, routes such as Delhi–Patna, Mumbai–Patna, Pune–Patna, Bengaluru–Patna and Chennai–Patna have been witnessing high demand, with confirmed berths unavailable on most regular trains during the festive period. The shortage of seats/berths has caused considerable inconvenience to passengers planning to return to their native places in Bihar for Holi.


To address the situation, the railways has decided to run additional Holi special trains and augment coaches in mail and express trains. “These measures aim to clear the waiting lists and ensure smoother travel during the peak festive period,” said ECR chief public relations officer (CPRO) Saraswati Chandra.

Passengers have also been advised to check train availability regularly and book tickets through authorised platforms. The railways has appealed to travellers to avoid last-minute journeys and cooperate with on-ground staff to maintain order during the rush.

Holi traditionally triggers massive migration, with thousands returning to Bihar from metros and major cities.

According to a Danapur railway official, the railways is preparing to handle an additional rush of about 10 to 15 lakh passengers travelling to Patna alone during the festive period. RPF personnel have been instructed to remain vigilant, particularly at Patna Junction, Patliputra Junction and Danapur, to enhance safety measures during Holi.