Patna: As the festival of colours, Holi, draws near, people from across the country are preparing for the annual celebrations. However, for many Bihar people living outside their home state, particularly in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai, securing a confirmed berth on Patna-bound trains is becoming increasingly difficult. Despite Holi being a month away, train ticket bookings to Bihar’s capital are filling up quickly, leaving many passengers frustrated and anxious. Holi, which falls on March 14 this year, is one of the most important festivals for people from Bihar and returning home to celebrate it with family is a long-cherished tradition. As the demand for train tickets rises each day, passengers are struggling to secure confirmed berths or even waitlisted tickets for trains departing from major cities to Bihar. “I was trying to book a train ticket from New Delhi to Patna for the past two weeks, but every time I check, the trains are either fully booked or there is a long waiting list. It is stressful and I am worried I might not make it home in time for the festival,” said Shruti, an MBA student at Delhi University. Trains such as the New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Tejas Rajdhani Express, New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Terminal Sampoorna Kranti Express, New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjeevi Express and New Delhi-Bhagalpur Vikramshila Express have no confirmed berths available in any class from March 10 onwards, railway sources said. Similarly, the Lokmanya Tilak Mumbai-Patna Express, Lokmanya Tilak Mumbai-Patliputra Express, Pune-Danapur Express and Ahmedabad-Patna Express, along with several other long-distance services connecting major cities to Patna, are in high demand with no confirmed berths available during the Holi period, sources added. In view of the increasing demand, the railways has decided to run several pairs of Holi special trains on the crowded routes. “The railways is at present completely occupied handling the huge Kumbh Mela rush. Thus, any contingency plan to put into operation Holi special trains is possible after the Kumbh Mela, which comes to an end on Feb 26,” said Saraswati Chandra, chief public relations officer of East Central Railway. The situation is particularly concerning for working professionals and students who rely on trains to return home. With limited flight options, train travel remains the most economical and feasible mode of transportation for ordinary people during the festive season, a Danapur railway official said.
