Extra Trains Though AP For Diwali, Chhath Festivals
Indian Railways has announced special trains connecting Andhra Pradesh with Bengaluru, Assam and Kolkata to manage increased passenger demand during Diwali and Chhath.
Indian Railways has announced special trains connecting south India with eastern and north-eastern India to meet increased travel demand during Diwali and Chhath pujas. These services will provide additional options for passengers travelling from Andhra Pradesh, including those boarding at Duvvada in Visakhapatnam
The Puja Special Express (06559/06560) will run between SMVT Bengaluru and Rangapara North in Assam, making six trips in each direction. Train No. 06559 will leave SMVT Bengaluru every Tuesday up to November 24, reach Duvvada on Wednesday evening, and then continue to Rangapara North. On the return journey, Train No. 06560 will depart Rangapara North every Saturday from October 24 to November 28, reach Duvvada on Sunday afternoon, and continue to Bengaluru.
Major halts include Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Duvvada, Kottavalasa, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Kharagpur, along with several stations in West Bengal and Assam. The 23-coach train will have one AC 2-tier coach, six AC 3-tier coaches, ten sleeper-class coaches, four general second-class coaches and two luggage-cum-divyangjan coaches.
A second special service will connect Guntur and Kolkata Chitpur. Train No. 07437 will leave Guntur on October 25 and November 1, reach Duvvada late the same night, and arrive at Kolkata Chitpur the following afternoon. The return Train No. 07438 will depart Kolkata Chitpur on October 26 and November 2, reach Duvvada the next morning, and reach Guntur that evening.
Guntur-Kolkata Chitpur special will stop at Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Tuni, Anakapalli, Duvvada, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road, Palasa, Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Kharagpur, among other stations. The trains will run with 19 coaches, including AC, sleeper-class, and unreserved coaches.
Railway officials said the additional services are intended to ease crowding on regular trains and help long-distance passengers during the festive season.