Indian Railways to run record 380 Ganpati special train trips in 2025, marking its biggest festive operation yet to serve the growing passenger demand across Maharashtra and the Konkan belt. In an unprecedented move, Indian Railways has announced 380 special train trips for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi season, the highest number ever introduced for this festival.
The surge in services reflects the steady rise in demand as devotees travel from Mumbai and other cities to their hometowns and pilgrimage sites across Maharashtra and coastal Konkan during the festive period. According to railway officials, the services are spread across zones, with the Central Railway accounting for the largest share at 296 trips. Western Railway will operate 56 trains, Konkan Railway Corporation six, and South Western Railway 22. In comparison, 305 services were operated in 2023, rising to 358 in 2024, before touching a record 380 this year. The festival will be celebrated from 27 August to 6 September 2025. However, the special services commenced as early as 11 August to ease the rush, with additional trips being progressively added closer to the festival dates. The trains are expected to significantly reduce congestion at major Mumbai terminals while ensuring better accessibility to Konkan towns.
Railway officials emphasised that the key routes have been carefully planned to cover towns with traditionally high festive footfalls. The trains will stop at major halts including Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, and extending up to Karwar, Kumta, Murdeshwar, Udupi, and Surathkal. The extended halts are designed to accommodate both devotees visiting religious sites and families returning home for the 10-day festival. Officials further added that the Indian Railways is deploying a mix of fully air-conditioned trains, sleeper class, and general coaches to ensure equitable access across different passenger groups. The move highlights the dual objectives of providing comfort and maintaining affordability, particularly for rural and semi-urban travellers.
Passengers can access the complete schedule and booking facilities through the IRCTC website, the RailOne app, and all PRS counters. Bookings for several routes have already witnessed high demand, underlining the cultural and social importance of the Ganesh Chaturthi homecoming. While the increase in services reflects efficiency in addressing peak seasonal demand, urban planners have called for more sustainable long-term solutions. With rising migration into Mumbai and its surrounding regions, railway infrastructure is under growing pressure during festivals. Experts suggest that eco-friendly mobility solutions, including upgraded regional connectivity and low-carbon transportation infrastructure, should complement the seasonal special trains.
Nonetheless, this record-breaking railway deployment underlines a strong commitment to providing safe, reliable, and equitable mobility during one of Maharashtra’s most significant cultural events. For lakhs of devotees, the expanded network promises a smoother and more accessible journey home for Ganesh Chaturthi 2025.
Also Read : Central Railway To Run Ganesh Festival Special Trains From Mumbai To Konkan
