Patna: Indian Railways has announced four additional pairs of special trains to ease travel ahead of the Holi festival, offering relief to passengers heading to Bihar and neighbouring states amid a seasonal surge in demand.
The trains, approved by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), will operate between February 17 and March 19, according to the zone’s chief public relations officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma. The move comes as ticket demand rises sharply in the run-up to Holi, one of the busiest travel periods of the year in eastern and northern India.
Railway officials said the additional services are intended to improve passengers’ chances of securing confirmed tickets and to reduce pressure on regular routes connecting Bihar with Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Special train services announced
Katihar–Amritsar Special (05736/05735)
The service between Katihar and Amritsar will run from February 18 to February 25, departing Katihar every Wednesday at 9pm. The return service from Amritsar will operate every Friday, with journeys scheduled from February 20 to March 27. The train is expected to benefit passengers travelling between Bihar and Punjab during the festival season.
Dibrugarh–Kolkata Special (05932/05931)
Connecting Dibrugarh and Kolkata, this train will depart Dibrugarh every Saturday and Kolkata every Monday. Railway authorities indicated that the number of trips could be increased depending on passenger demand.
Dibrugarh–Jhanjharpur Special (05974/05973)
This service will operate from Dibrugarh between February 17 and March 31, and from Jhanjharpur between February 18 and April 1, running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Notably, the train will pass through the newly commissioned Galgalia–Araria rail section, improving connectivity in north-eastern Bihar.
Narangi–Gorakhpur Special (05633/05634)
The service linking Narangi and Gorakhpur will depart Narangi from February 19 to March 26. The return leg from Gorakhpur will run between February 20 and March 27.
Railway officials said the additional trains are part of wider efforts to manage festival traffic and ensure smoother journeys during Holi, when millions travel to their hometowns to celebrate with family.
