Indian Railways is now planning to run special trains on key routes to West Bengal for the Durga Puja 2026 celebrations. These trains are expected to manage the increase in demand during the upcoming festive season. Keep reading if you are also planning a journey to West Bengal soon in October.
Indian Railways Plans Special Trains For Durga Puja
Durga Puja 2026 is all set to take place from October 16 to October 21, 2026. And just like every year, there is going to be a huge railway demand. A large number of people return to their hometowns in West Bengal from different parts of the country to celebrate the festival. This is why trains on several routes see a huge rush and it gets difficult for authorities to manage the crowd.
According to The Indian Express, regular trains on several routes are already seeing a huge demand, with waitlists crossing 290 on several trains. Some trains and classes are also showing REGRET, which means the train class or quota has reached its maximum waiting-list capacity. Reportedly, the Delhi-Howrah route is one of the most popular train routes seeing heavy demand ahead of Durga Puja 2026.
On 12306, Kolkata Rajdhani tickets for October 16 are fully booked across classes. Plus, the Mumbai-Howrah route is also seeing strong passenger demand for October 26. The same goes for the Chennai-Howrah route, and the Guwahati Express is showing REGRET across all classes.
Also Read: “Puja Me Swaad Badh Jata Hai,” Ankush Hazra On Kolkata Street Food During Durga Puja
Special Trains To Run On High-Demand Routes
Shivram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Railway, shared with The Indian Express that the authorities are now planning to operate special trains on routes expected to see high passenger demand. The zonal railway has also revised timings for reservation offices during Durga Puja. All computerised reservation offices in the Kolkata and Howrah areas will operate in a single shift from 8 am to 2 pm on October 19, 20 and 21.
However, booking counters at Howrah, Sealdah and Kolkata will continue to operate normally. Patna-Howrah, Hyderabad-Howrah and Bengaluru-Howrah, among others, are also expected to see increased crowds. The dedicated special trains for Durga Puja 2026 will be able to handle extra passenger demand. Moreover, it will reduce wait times for people travelling to their hometowns in West Bengal.
What are your plans for Durga Puja 2026?
Cover Image Courtesy: Sudip Biswas and Joeravi
FAQs
When is Durga Puja 2026?
Durga Puja 2026 will be celebrated from October 16 to October 21.
Where is Durga Puja celebrated?
Durga Puja is celebrated mainly in West Bengal and other parts of India.
Is Kolkata the main city for Durga Puja?
Yes, Kolkata is one of the main cities known for its grand Durga Puja celebrations.
