MUMBAI
More than 1.17 lakh passengers have booked tickets on special trains being operated for the Ganpati festival, as Indian Railways prepares for a major festive rush. Central Railway has announced 262 special train trips to help passengers travelling from Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to destinations across the Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa.
Of the total services, 200 will be reserved special trains while 62 will be unreserved services. The reserved trains will include air-conditioned coaches along with Sleeper and General coaches, giving passengers different travel options during the festival period.
According to Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Dr Swapnil Nila, the 200 reserved special trips include 112 to-and-fro services to Sawantwadi Road, 64 trips to Ratnagiri and 24 trips to Madgaon. The special train services are scheduled to begin from September 9, 2026.
The large number of bookings has highlighted the expected increase in passenger movement during the Ganpati festival. Railways has advised travellers to plan their journeys in advance and follow official travel instructions to avoid difficulties during the busy period.
The special trains are aimed at providing additional travel capacity and easing pressure on regular services. With thousands of passengers expected to travel towards Maharashtra’s Konkan region and Goa, the additional services are expected to make festive travel more convenient and organised.
