Patna: With Holi just around the corner, passengers traveling to Bihar are facing difficulties as trains remain fully booked until March 13.
This year, Holi falls on March 14 and 15. All major trains arriving in Patna from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai have long waiting lists.
Northeast Railway Public Relations Officer Himanshu Kumar stated that Kumbh special trains are currently operational, and Holi special trains will be introduced after the conclusion of the Kumbh Mela. The Maha Kumbh will conclude on Mahashivratri, and an announcement regarding Holi special trains is expected soon.
Despite availability, flight fares to Patna have significantly increased, with prices rising by 25% to 60%. The fares are expected to climb further in the coming days. Direct flights to Patna are available from cities like Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Guwahati, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Goa.
Bus services remain a viable option for travelers from various cities. Buses from Delhi, Jaipur, Raipur, Rourkela, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Siliguri arrive at major Bihar cities like Patna, Siwan, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya.
According to Tarakeshwar Prasad, a travel agent at Patna bus stand, passengers often opt for bus travel when train tickets are unavailable, and pre-booking has already started.
Here’s an overview of some key bus routes:
- Delhi to Patna – 4 buses daily
- Delhi to Siwan – 5 buses daily
- Delhi to Muzaffarpur – 5 buses daily
- Jaipur to Patna – 3 buses daily
- Siliguri to Patna – 35 buses daily
- Rourkela to Patna – 5 buses daily
- Kolkata to Patna – 10 buses daily
- Guwahati to Patna – 20 buses daily
Private Cab Bookings on the Rise
Many travelers are now opting for private cabs due to the lack of train and flight availability. Arun Mishra, an agent at Laxmikant Travel Company, mentioned that pre-bookings for private cabs have already started. Cab services are available from major cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Raipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Chandigarh, and Gandhinagar.
As the festival approaches, demand for all modes of transportation is expected to rise further, prompting travelers to plan their journeys in advance.
