Tatanagar-Delhi-Mumbai Trains see waiting lists due to Durga Puja rush

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 22: As Durga Puja approaches, trains connecting Tatanagar to Delhi and Mumbai are witnessing heavy bookings, leading to waiting lists across multiple classes. Passengers traveling on the Puri-Delhi Purushottam Express from Tatanagar are facing unavailability of confirmed seats in Sleeper, Third AC, Economy, First AC, and Second AC coaches. Similarly, seats in all categories of the Howrah-Mumbai Geetanjali Express have been fully booked since October 8, with waiting lists extending to 23.

In contrast, trains passing through Ara, Buxar, Chhapra, Thawe, and Katihar in Bihar still have vacant seats, albeit there is a rush for tickets. The Puri-Rishikesh Utkal Express, covering seven states, has reported continuous waiting lists across all coach categories since October 11.

Experts estimate that approximately 20,000 passengers travel daily from Tatanagar station on 41 pairs of long-distance trains. Throughout the year, passengers face challenges in securing confirmed seats on trains to destinations like Patna, Gorakhpur, Jammu, Varanasi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Anand Vihar, and Delhi.

To alleviate the seat shortage during the festive rush, South East Railway Zone has initiated special trains from Durga Puja to Diwali and Chhath, and has added extra Sleeper and Third AC coaches to existing trains. Special trains are also being arranged for destinations like Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, and Anand Vihar, while additional coaches are being incorporated into trains serving Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, enhancing travel convenience for passengers during this busy period.