Patna: Seats on key long-distance trains to Bihar are already fully booked ahead of Holi, as thousands prepare to travel home for the festival on March 4.
According to railway officials, services including the Tejas Express, Humsafar Express and Garib Rath Express are running at capacity between February 20 and March 3 on routes connecting Bihar with other states.
The surge reflects the annual rush of migrant workers and students returning home to celebrate Holi with their families. With confirmed tickets unavailable on most regular services, passengers are left with limited options. Tatkal tickets – released a day before departure – are in high demand and often sell out within minutes due to restricted quotas.
To ease the pressure, Indian Railways has announced a series of special trains, including additional services between Delhi and Patna.
Among the special services:
- Train No. 01667 Rani Kamlapati–Danapur will run on February 27 and March 2.
- Train No. 01668 Danapur–Rani Kamlapati will operate on February 29 and March 3.
- Train No. 09525 Hapa–Naharlagun will run every Wednesday from March 4.
- Train No. 09526 Naharlagun–Hapa will operate every Saturday from March 7.
- Train No. 09821 Sogaria–Danapur will run from February 28 to March 7.
- Train No. 09822 Danapur–Sogaria will operate from March 2 to March 9.
- Train No. 01665 Rani Kamlapati–Agartala will run every Thursday from March 5.
- Train No. 01666 Agartala–Rani Kamlapati will operate every Sunday from March 8.
Railway authorities said that, in anticipation of heavy passenger traffic during the festive period, a total of 1,410 special train trips will be operated nationwide. Of these, 285 trips will be managed by the East Central Railway zone, which serves much of Bihar.
In addition to the extra rail services, 200 special buses are also set to operate from several major states to Bihar to accommodate the seasonal influx.
Officials said the measures aim to provide relief to passengers and manage the expected spike in travel demand during one of the country’s busiest festival periods.
