Patna: Travel between North Bihar and the state capital is set to become marginally easier from May 18, with the Indian Railways increasing the capacity of the Bagaha–Patliputra MEMU Intercity Express to address persistent overcrowding.
The daily service, which connects Bagaha in West Champaran with Patna via key towns including Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, will now run with 16 coaches instead of 12.
Railway officials said the decision has been taken in response to rising passenger demand on the route, which is widely used by commuters, students and traders travelling to and from the state capital. The service operates as the Bagaha–Patliputra MEMU Intercity Express (15201/15202).
Saraswati Chandra, chief public relations officer of East Central Railway, confirmed the change, saying additional coaches had been attached to the train to improve capacity and ease congestion during peak travel periods.
The route has seen sustained pressure on seating availability, with passengers frequently reporting overcrowding, particularly during weekdays and festival seasons. Railway officials acknowledged that the demand for increased capacity had been under consideration for some time.
Commuters on the corridor have long argued that the existing configuration was insufficient for the volume of daily travellers. The extension to 16 coaches is expected to provide some relief, particularly for regular passengers who rely on the service for work and education-related travel.
The railway administration said the move is part of broader efforts to improve passenger convenience and manage crowding across high-demand routes in eastern India. Officials added that operational performance will continue to be monitored, and similar adjustments may be made to other services if required.
While the increase in coaches is expected to ease pressure, authorities have not announced changes to frequency or timetable. Passengers have welcomed the decision, saying it could reduce difficulties in boarding and improve overall travel comfort, though some continue to call for further long-term capacity upgrades on the corridor.
