The festive season is just around the corner, and in order to ensure smooth, comfortable, and hassle-free travel for passengers, Indian Railways has announced the introduction of 20 Puja Special train services. Alongside these, the authorities have also decided to extend the operation of certain other special trains to accommodate the surge in demand during the upcoming festive rush. Here is a detailed look at the announcement.
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Indian Railways Announces Puja Special Trains
Indian Railways is set to introduce 20 special services of the Hadapsar–Danapur–Hadapsar Puja Special for the festive season. As reported by the Free Press Journal, the objective behind this move is to help reduce congestion and make travel more convenient for the lakhs of passengers who plan to travel during this period.
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The services will run as follows:
- 03214 Hadapsar–Danapur Weekly Special
Departs Hadapsar at 6:45 am and arrives at Danapur at 7:45 pm the following day.
Runs every Monday from September 29, 2025, to December 1, 2025. - 03213 Danapur–Hadapsar Weekly Special
Departs Danapur at 9:00 pm and arrives at Hadapsar at 4:15 am on the third day.
Runs every Saturday from September 26, 2025, to November 29, 2025.
Halts: Daund Chord Line, Ahmednagar, Belapur, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Madan Mahal, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Prayagraj, Chheoki, Mirzapur, Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, and Ara.
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Coach Composition: 8 AC 3-tier Economy coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 4 General Second Class coaches, 1 General Second Class-cum-Guard’s Brake Van, and 1 Generator Car.
Extension of Other Special Trains
Apart from the Hadapsar–Danapur services, Indian Railways has extended the run of several other special trains to handle the rush expected during Diwali and Chhath Puja.
LTT Mumbai–Dhanbad–LTT Weekly Special (18 services)
- 03380 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Dhanbad Weekly Special
Runs every Thursday, extended by 9 additional services from October 9, 2025, to December 4, 2025. - 03379 Dhanbad–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Weekly Special
Runs every Tuesday, extended by 9 additional services from October 7, 2025, to December 2, 2025.
Coach Composition: 2 AC 2-tier coaches, 2 AC 3-tier coaches, 6 AC 3-tier Economy coaches, 6 Sleeper Class coaches, 4 General Second Class coaches, 1 Second Seating-cum-Guard’s Brake Van, and 1 Generator Car.
LTT Mumbai–Raxaul–LTT Weekly Special (20 services)
- 05558 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Raxaul Weekly Special
Runs every Thursday, extended by 10 additional services from September 25, 2025, to November 27, 2025. - 05557 Raxaul–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Weekly Special
Runs every Tuesday, extended by 10 additional services from September 23, 2025, to November 25, 2025.
Coach Composition: 1 First-cum-AC 2-tier coach, 2 AC 2-tier coaches, 6 AC 3-tier coaches, 7 Sleeper Class coaches, 4 General Second Class coaches, 1 Second Seating-cum-Guard’s Brake Van, and 1 Generator Car.
LTT Mumbai–Saharsa–LTT Weekly Special (22 services)
- 05586 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Saharsa Weekly Special
Runs every Sunday, extended by 11 additional services from September 21, 2025, to November 30, 2025. - 05585 Saharsa–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Weekly Special
Runs every Friday, extended by 11 additional services from September 19, 2025, to November 28, 2025.
Coach Composition: 2 AC 2-tier coaches, 5 AC 3-tier coaches, 2 AC 3-tier Economy coaches, 6 Sleeper Class coaches, 5 General Second Class coaches, 1 Second Seating-cum-Guard’s Brake Van, and 1 Generator Car.
Important Notes for Passengers
It is important to note that there will be no changes in timings or halts for the following train numbers:
- 03380/03379 (LTT–Dhanbad–LTT Weekly Special)
- 05558/05557 (LTT–Raxaul–LTT Weekly Special)
- 05586/05585 (LTT–Saharsa–LTT Weekly Special)
Passengers are advised to check the official IRCTC website for ticket bookings, schedules, and any further updates regarding these special festive season train services.
✨ With this move, Indian Railways aims to make festive travel smoother, safer, and more convenient for the countless passengers travelling to their hometowns to celebrate Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Indian Railways Puja Special Trains
Q1: Why has Indian Railways introduced Puja Special trains?
Indian Railways has launched Puja Special trains to handle the huge increase in passenger traffic during the festive season of Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. These trains aim to reduce congestion and ensure smoother travel experiences.
Q2: How many Puja Special train services have been announced?
A total of 20 Hadapsar–Danapur–Hadapsar Puja Special services have been introduced, along with extensions for several other trains such as Mumbai–Dhanbad, Mumbai–Raxaul, and Mumbai–Saharsa routes.
Q3: What are the dates of operation for the Hadapsar–Danapur Puja Special?
- 03214 Hadapsar–Danapur Weekly Special will run every Monday from September 29, 2025, to December 1, 2025.
- 03213 Danapur–Hadapsar Weekly Special will run every Saturday from September 26, 2025, to November 29, 2025.
Q4: Which stations will the Hadapsar–Danapur Special halt at?
The train will halt at Daund Chord Line, Ahmednagar, Belapur, Kopargaon, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Madan Mahal, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Prayagraj, Chheoki, Mirzapur, Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, and Ara.
Q5: How can passengers book tickets for Puja Special trains?
Tickets for all Puja Special and extended services can be booked online through the official IRCTC website or via authorized ticket booking counters.
Q6: Will there be any changes in train timings or halts?
No, there will be no changes in timings or halts for the extended trains on the Mumbai–Dhanbad, Mumbai–Raxaul, and Mumbai–Saharsa routes. The schedule remains the same as earlier.
Q7: What is the coach composition for Puja Special trains?
Coach composition varies depending on the route, but typically includes AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier, Sleeper Class, General Second Class, Guard’s Brake Vans, and Generator Cars. Some services also offer AC 3-tier Economy coaches and First-cum-AC 2-tier options.
Q8: Why are certain trains being extended in addition to the new services?
The extensions of existing trains such as LTT–Dhanbad, LTT–Raxaul, and LTT–Saharsa aim to further manage passenger demand during the festive season, as these routes witness extremely high travel volumes.
Q9: Is Tatkal booking available for Puja Special trains?
Yes, Tatkal booking is generally available for Puja Special trains, subject to seat availability. Passengers are advised to check the IRCTC portal for details and book early to avoid last-minute rush.
Q10: Which festivals will these special trains cover?
The services are primarily planned to handle the festive rush during Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, when millions of passengers travel to their hometowns.
