Patna: Indian Railways will operate a special train between Howrah and Natesar (Rajgir) during the Shravani Mela 2026 to accommodate the large number of pilgrims travelling to Bihar and Jharkhand during the holy month of Sawan.
The Howrah-Natesar Shravani Mela Special will run on selected days from July 5 to September 30, offering additional travel capacity and helping reduce congestion on regular services.
Train Schedule
According to the Railways, Train No. 03001 Howrah-Natesar Shravani Mela Special will operate from July 5 to September 29.
The train will depart from Howrah at 11:50 pm every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday, reaching Natesar Junction at 12:00 pm the following day.
For the return journey, Train No. 03002 Natesar-Howrah Shravani Mela Special will run from July 6 to September 30.
It will leave Natesar at 1:00 pm every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and arrive at Howrah at 4:30 am the next day.
Route and Halts
The special train will stop at several key stations across West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, including:
- Howrah
- Bandel Junction
- Barddhaman Junction
- Durgapur
- Asansol Junction
- Chittaranjan
- Madhupur Junction
- Jasidih Junction
- Jhajha
- Jamui
- Kiul Junction
- Sheikhpura Junction
- Astawan
- Bihar Sharif Junction
- Nalanda
- Rajgir
- Natesar Junction
The service is expected to benefit pilgrims travelling to Rajgir, Nalanda and nearby religious destinations, while also improving connectivity for passengers from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar.
Coach Composition
Railways said the train will operate with ICF coaches comprising General, Sleeper, AC and SLRD coaches. Additional coaches may be attached depending on passenger demand during the festival period.
Relief During the Shravani Mela
Passenger traffic to Bihar and Jharkhand increases significantly during the annual Shravani Mela as lakhs of devotees travel to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The additional special service is intended to ease overcrowding on existing trains and provide a more convenient travel option for pilgrims.
Advisory for Passengers
Railways has advised passengers to check the latest train timings, ticket availability and other travel-related updates before commencing their journey to avoid inconvenience during the festival season.
