Surat: In view of the heavy rush of passengers traveling to North India during Diwali and Chhath Puja, Western Railway has announced special measures to ensure affordable and convenient travel. To accommodate the growing demand, unreserved “Puja Special” trains will operate from Udhna and Valsad to various cities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between October 14 and October 29.
As per agency report, a total of three unreserved special trains will run during this period. The Udhna–Bhagalpur Unreserved Special (09081/09082) will operate daily from October 14 to October 27, departing from Udhna at 11:15 a.m. The Udhna–Samastipur Unreserved Special (09091/09092) will also run daily during the same period, leaving Udhna at 10:00 p.m. Additionally, the Valsad–Barauni Unreserved Special will be operated in this duration to cater to the festive travel demand. Each train will consist of 20 coaches to accommodate a larger number of passengers.
To manage the festive rush and maintain safety, the railway administration has decided to temporarily suspend parcel booking and handling at Udhna station from October 15 to October 31. The restriction will apply to all trains originating from, arriving at, or passing through Udhna, except for leased parcel traffic, which has been exempted from the order.
Railway officials have urged passengers to carry only essential personal belongings during travel to ensure comfort and safety. Regular announcements and notices will be made at stations to keep passengers informed about schedules, facilities, and safety measures throughout the festive period.
