In response to a significant operational disruption affecting IndiGo flights from Patna, the Indian Railways has swiftly implemented a comprehensive contingency plan to manage the sudden surge in passenger demand. The East Central Railway (ECR) zone has rolled out special trains and added extra coaches to key services to assist travelers left stranded by the mass cancellations.
Railways' Swift Response with Special Trains
According to Saraswati Chandra, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of ECR, the railways has pressed at least three pairs of special trains into service to accommodate the affected passengers. This decisive action aims to clear the mounting rush and provide alternative travel options from the Bihar capital.
One of the key measures includes operating a Rajdhani-clone special train. Additionally, the railways is running an extra special pair between Darbhanga and other key destinations to further ease the pressure on the transport network.
Augmenting Capacity on Existing Trains
In a parallel relief effort, the railways has significantly increased capacity on two major express trains originating from Patna. An extra coach has been attached to the Patna Tejas Rajdhani Express and the New Delhi-bound Sampoorna Kranti Express.
This temporary augmentation is designed to ensure that passengers who lost their air travel options can still reach their destinations comfortably by rail. The move highlights the system's flexibility in responding to urgent, unplanned travel crises.
Round-the-Clock Monitoring and Preparedness
Railway authorities are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Abhinav Siddharth, the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Senior DCM) of Danapur division, stated that the situation is being watched round-the-clock.
"The railways is closely tracking wait-list positions across major routes originating from Patna and is prepared to introduce more special services or additional coaches if the need arises," Siddharth said. He emphasized that this is an unprecedented situation and the priority is to provide maximum relief to stranded passengers. The railways has committed to continuously evaluating demand and taking immediate steps to ensure smooth travel.
Detailed Schedule of Special Trains
The ECR has released specific schedules for the special trains to manage the passenger rush effectively:
- Rajdhani Clone Special (02309/02310): This train will depart from Patna at 8:30 PM on Saturday and Monday, reaching Anand Vihar Terminal in New Delhi at 3:00 PM the next day. On its return journey, it will leave Anand Vihar at 7:00 PM on Sunday and Tuesday, arriving in Patna at 2:00 PM the following day.
- Special Train (02395/02396): This service will leave Patna at 8:30 PM on Sunday, arriving at Anand Vihar at 3:00 PM the next day. It will return from Anand Vihar at 7:00 PM on Monday, reaching Patna at 2:00 PM the next day.
- Darbhanga-Anand Vihar Special (05563/05564): To cater to passengers from north Bihar, this train will depart Darbhanga at 6:15 PM on Sunday and arrive at Anand Vihar at 9:15 AM the following day. Its return journey will start from Anand Vihar at 12:05 PM on Tuesday, with arrival in Darbhanga scheduled for 11:00 PM the same day.
The East Central Railway's swift and multi-pronged response is expected to offer much-needed support to thousands of passengers impacted by the sudden air travel disruption from Patna.
