Indian Railways has announced the operation of over 12,000 special trains to ensure smooth travel for passengers during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the media at Rail Bhawan, said that these arrangements follow consultations with Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, MP Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Union Minister Lalan Singh, and MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, and local Members of Parliament.
The Minister highlighted that passengers undertaking onward journeys between October 13 and 26 and return journeys from November 17 to December 1 will be eligible for a 20% discount on return tickets, a move expected to benefit a large number of travelers this festive season.
In addition to the special trains, four new Amrit Bharat Express trains will be introduced connecting Gaya to Delhi, Saharsa to Amritsar, Chhapra to Delhi, and Muzaffarpur to Hyderabad. A new Buddhist circuit train will also be launched, covering important sites including Vaishali, Hajipur, Sonepur, Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, and Koderma, providing convenient access for middle-class families interested in cultural and spiritual tourism.
The Railways will also undertake major infrastructure expansions in Bihar. The Buxar–Lakhisarai rail section will be upgraded to a four-line corridor, while a ring railway system is planned around Patna. Rail connectivity will be enhanced between Sultanganj and Deoghar, and a new train service will run between Patna and Ayodhya. Additionally, a washing pit facility will be established at Laukaha Bazar, and construction work will commence on several newly approved road overbridges in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Union Minister Lalan Singh, and MPs Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal and Sanjay Kumar Jha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving new projects and supporting the expansion of rail services in Bihar.