Patna: Indian Railways has unveiled a major plan to handle the annual surge in passenger travel during the Holi festival, announcing the operation of 1,410 special train trips between March 1 and 22. Of these, 285 services will be run by East Central Railway, which covers much of Bihar and surrounding regions.
Railway officials said the additional services are intended to provide safer and more convenient travel options for millions of passengers returning home for the festival. The trains will connect Bihar with Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and several northeastern states, significantly expanding capacity on high-demand routes.
Among the key services announced is the Sogariya (Kota)–Danapur–Sogariya special train, scheduled to run from Sogariya on February 28 and March 7, and from Danapur on March 2 and 9. The route will pass through Katni, Prayagraj Chheoki, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Buxar and Ara. Another service, the Rani Kamalapati–Danapur–Rani Kamalapati special train, will operate on February 27 and March 2 from Rani Kamalapati, and on February 28 and March 3 from Danapur.
Further strengthening long-distance connectivity, the Rani Kamalapati–Agartala Holi special train will run every Thursday from March 5 and every Sunday from March 8, travelling via major hubs such as Patliputra, Hajipur, Barauni and Katihar. The Hapa–Naharlagun special train will operate weekly from March 4, linking western India with the northeast through Varanasi, Ballia and Chhapra.
Railway authorities have urged passengers to check real-time updates before travelling through the helpline number 139, the NTES portal, or the official mobile app. Officials said the expanded timetable is expected to ease overcrowding and reduce waiting lists during one of India’s busiest travel periods.
