• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Railways to run 262 special trains for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026.
  2. Aims to ease festive rush, counter private bus fare hikes.
  3. Connects Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur to Konkan and Goa regions.

To handle the festive rush and protect travellers from steep fare hikes by private bus and taxi operators during Ganesh Chaturthi, Indian Railways has announced 262 special train trips this year. These trains are primarily being operated to improve connectivity between Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur and the Konkan region and Goa.

During Ganeshotsav, train services to Konkan and Goa see a sharp rise in demand. With tickets often selling out quickly, private bus and taxi operators reportedly increase fares by three to four times. A ticket that normally costs Rs 500-800 can rise to Rs 2,500-4,000 during the festive season.

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262 Ganpati Special Trains To Ease Festive Rush

Central Railway (CR) is set to run 262 Ganpati Special train trips for the festive season to allow passengers an economical mode of transport and lesser dependence on costly private buses.

Of the 262 trips, 200 will be reserved services with AC, sleeper and general coaches, while 62 will be fully unreserved trains. The unreserved services are expected to particularly benefit passengers making last-minute travel plans.

According to Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Dr Swapnil Neela, the special services will begin from September 9, 2026.

Over 1.17 Lakh Passengers Already Booked

These services are already very popular, with over 1.17 lakh passengers making reservations for the 200 special reserved train journeys.

These special trains will aim at boosting connectivity between Mumbai and Pune and Nagpur to popular places in Konkan and Goa during the festive season.

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Konkan, Goa Routes Get Major Boost

Highest among these special trains will run to Sawantwadi Road (112 trips), followed by Ratnagiri (64) and Madgaon (24).

With these additional services, passengers travelling for Ganesh Chaturthi are expected to find cheaper rail alternatives to commute and also be able to escape the severe jump in private transport charges during the festival.


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