Central Railway has rolled out a large-scale plan to run 246 special trains during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, aimed at absorbing the sharp rise in passenger traffic that typically accompanies the celebration. The initiative is designed to improve connectivity across key routes and reduce congestion for devotees travelling during the festive period.
Of the total services announced, the majority will operate as mixed specials featuring a combination of AC, sleeper, and unreserved coaches, while a smaller portion will run purely as unreserved trains to accommodate general passengers. According to the railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, the expanded schedule reflects the scale of demand expected from Ganpati devotees this year.
The special services will originate from multiple major stations, with the highest concentration departing from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, followed by a significant share from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and a smaller number from Pune. Together, these routes will connect Mumbai and Pune with popular Konkan coast destinations such as Ratnagiri, Sawantwadi Road, and Madgaon, along with several intermediate halts across the region.
Reservations for these special trains will open in a staggered manner, with bookings for the earliest set of trains beginning August 1, followed by additional openings over the following days. Passengers can book through PRS counters, IRCTC, and RailOne, while unreserved coach tickets will remain available at standard fares via the UTS system.
Beyond the mainline specials, the plan also includes daily unreserved MEMU services connecting Diva with destinations like Khed and Chiplun, offering additional short-distance options for commuters and pilgrims travelling within the region during the festival window.
With services scheduled to run through much of September, the expanded train network is expected to significantly ease the seasonal surge in travel demand while improving accessibility to the Konkan belt during one of Maharashtra’s most widely celebrated festivals.