Bihar: After weeks of steep ticket prices during the festive rush, domestic airfares to Bihar have eased by up to 20% as airlines and the Indian Railways expand services ahead of Chhath and upcoming state elections.
In recent weeks, passengers faced soaring fares, with tickets from Delhi to Patna peaking at Rs. 20,948, Pune at Rs. 23,793, and Ahmedabad at Rs. 21,524. Some travellers paid as much as Rs. 40,000 on last-minute bookings. The relief comes as additional flights are pressed into service, cutting fares by 10–20% on key routes.
Airlines increase festive capacity
Air India has added one flight each from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru to Patna. IndiGo has expanded operations with three extra flights on the Delhi–Patna route and one on Ahmedabad–Patna. Air India Express has introduced one special flight each from Delhi and Bengaluru, while SpiceJet is operating two additional routes to Patna.
Railways launch 51 Puja Special trains
To manage the surge in demand, the Indian Railways has announced 51 Puja Special trains connecting Bihar with Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Amritsar, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Officials expect millions to arrive in Bihar over the next two weeks.
To ensure smooth travel, the Railways has deployed crowd-management teams at major stations, simplified ticket verification, and streamlined boarding procedures.
Focus on ‘homecoming and voting’
The Bihar government, in coordination with central transport agencies, has intensified efforts to keep travel disruptions minimal. According to sources, the Chief Minister’s Office has issued clear instructions to ensure passengers face no inconvenience.
