Odisha train travel is facing a sharp squeeze ahead of Durga Puja, with long waiting lists reported on major routes linking the state to Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru. East Coast Railway has started adding coaches and operating special trains as passengers struggle to secure confirmed berths for the festive period.
The rush has intensified because the Puja holiday coincides with a weekend, increasing demand from students, migrant workers, professionals and families planning to return home or travel during the break. Railway reservation charts show that several long-distance services passing through Odisha have no confirmed tickets available for multiple dates over the coming month.
Among the trains facing heavy demand are the Bhubaneswar-Bengaluru Prashanti Express, Howrah-M.G. R. Chennai Central Mail, Bhubaneswar-Mumbai Konark Express, Delhi-bound Purushottam Express, Nandankanan Superfast Express and Tejas Rajdhani. Several trains towards Howrah are also reporting high waiting lists.
The pressure is affecting passengers who booked weeks in advance. Pintu Nahak, a resident of Ganjam who works in Gujarat, said he booked a ticket from Bharuch to Berhampur last month for travel on October 15, but the reservation had not been confirmed. He said he was uncertain about reaching home before Dussehra.
Other passengers said the lack of confirmed berths was forcing them to reconsider travel plans. Kanhei Puhan, a resident of Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar, said his family had booked seven train tickets for travel to Delhi on October 18, but none had been confirmed. He said air travel was unaffordable for the entire family and that the trip might have to be cancelled if the tickets remained unconfirmed.
The situation highlights the importance of rail capacity during India’s seasonal migration and festival travel peaks. For many families, trains remain substantially more affordable than air travel, particularly when several members are travelling together. The festive rush therefore affects not only leisure travel but also the ability of migrant workers and students to return to their home districts.
East Coast Railway said it was monitoring demand on busy routes and adding capacity wherever operationally feasible. An ECoR spokesperson said 15 special trains were being operated through Odisha to meet passenger demand, while extra coaches had been added to 22 trains. The spokesperson also said more Puja special trains would be operated in the coming days.
The increased demand is also extending to tourist destinations, as travellers combine festival holidays with leisure trips. Railway authorities’ next steps will depend on route-level demand, operational feasibility and the availability of additional coaches and berths during the remaining Puja travel period.
