Maharashtra is already gearing up for the tidal wave of travellers that Ganesh Chaturthi brings, and this year the Indian Railways is preparing on an unprecedented scale. To move lakhs of devotees returning to their hometowns or heading towards the Konkan coast, the network will operate 380 Ganpati Special trains. This is the highest number of festival services ever put on tracks in India.
Indian Railways Gear Up For Ganesh Chaturthi 2025
According to India Today, in 2023, the Railways arranged 305 trips; in 2024, the number rose to 358. Now, 2025 breaks through with 380.
The Central Railway shoulders most of the work with 296 services, covering Mumbai and the ring of towns around it, still the heaviest choke points every September. Western Railway has 56 specials, while the Konkan Railway (KRCL) adds a modest six.
South Western Railway chips in with 22 services, catering to passengers moving in from Karnataka. Together, the four zones spread the load so that heavy crowds don’t slow down operations at stations like CSMT, Dadar, or Panvel and keep the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi awakened and moving.
For Konkan travellers, every halt matters, and this year’s map is as dense as ever. Trains will stop at the following stations:
- Kolad
- Indapur
- Mangaon
- Goregaon Road
- Veer
- Sape Wamne
- Karanjadi
- Vinhere
- Diwankhavati
- Khed
- Anjani
- Chiplun
- Sangameshwar Road
- Ratnagiri
- Adavali
- Vilavade
- Rajapur Road
- Vaibhavwadi Road
- Nandgaon Road
- Kankavali
- Sindhudurg
- Kudal
- Zarap
- Sawantwadi Road
- Madure
- Thivim
- Karmali
- Madgaon Junction
- Karwar
- Gokarna Road
- Kumta
- Murdeshwar
- Mookambika Road
- Kundapura
- Udupi
- Mulki
- Surathkal
It’s a deliberate net and a cast wide enough to link metropolitan Mumbai with even the smallest temple towns. These are places where Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated and local Ganesh idols are kept.
Also Read: 20 Fascinating Ancient Ganesh Temples In India You Need To Visit
When And How To Book
Although Ganesh Chaturthi’s special Puja begins on August 27 and ends on September 6, 2025, trains began operations as early as August 11. Services are being added in phases to absorb the rush that typically builds week by week.
Bookings are open on the IRCTC website, the RailOne app, and across PRS counters, giving passengers a choice of digital convenience or the traditional ticket window, as stated by India Today.
Officials insist the focus is not only on running more trains but on keeping them punctual and safe. Special monitoring squads, upgraded crowd-control measures at choke-point stations, and real-time checks on delays are in place. The intention is to remind families to enjoy Ganesh Chaturthi to the fullest without any restrictions.
And in many ways, the trains themselves are part of the festival. For thousands, the journey to Konkan villages is inseparable from the celebration. The bustle of kids piling into coaches, the anticipation of arriving at homes decorated with fresh idols and the immersion processions on return are part of the festival vibe. This year’s record deployment recognises that the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is as much about movement and reunion as it is about rituals at the mandap.
Also Read: 8 Best Places In Pune To Get Modaks For Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration
By scheduling 380 Ganpati Specials, Indian Railways has set a new national record. The number is commendable, but behind it lies a firmer truth: infrastructure, when planned with precision, can amplify culture. In the next few weeks, these trains will carry not just passengers, but the pulse of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Cover Image Courtesy: divyanshupandey/CanvaPro and nikkul/Wikipedia
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