In anticipation of the increased passenger traffic during the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities, Indian Railways has revealed plans to operate 12,000 special trains, primarily in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Addressing the media, the Union Railways Minister announced the deployment of 150 unreserved trains to manage the surge in travelers. These special trains, capable of accommodating approximately 2-3 crore passengers, will commence operations from October 1 and continue until November 15, ensuring comprehensive coverage throughout the festive season. Furthermore, the Minister highlighted significant progress in punctuality across numerous divisions and announced the upcoming rollout of the eagerly awaited Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, with the first rake already prepared and the second expected by mid-October. Additionally, a new railway line connecting Rajpura and Mohali in Punjab, with an estimated cost of Rs 443 crore and spanning 18 km, was announced. This new line aims to enhance connectivity with the Malwa region and reduce travel distances to Chandigarh significantly. A new Vande Bharat train connecting Firozpur Cantt, Bhatinda, Patiala, and Delhi was also proposed.
