RAIPUR: In a move aimed at easing travel for NEET-2026 candidates and their families, South East Central Railway (SECR) has announced special train operations and additional unreserved capacity across key routes to manage the expected rush during the examination period. The NEET examination will be held at 11 centres in Raipur on June 21.
Special Train Services
SECR will run Korba–Durg–Korba MEMU/Passenger Specials on June 20 and 21. Train 06801 (Korba–Durg) will depart Korba at 10:00 hrs on June 20 and reach Durg at 16:15 hrs, stopping at Champa, Janjgir Naila, Akaltara, Bilaspur, Belha, Bhatapara, Tilda Newra, Raipur and Bhilai Power House. The return service, Train 06802 (Durg–Korba), will leave Durg at 19:05 hrs on June 20 and arrive Korba at 00:45 hrs with halts including Bhilai Power House, Raipur, Tilda Newra, Bhatapara, Belha, Bilaspur, Akaltara, Janjgir Naila and Champa.
On June 21, Train 06803 (Korba–Durg) will depart at 04:00 hrs and reach Durg at 10:50 hrs, while Train 06804 (Durg–Korba) will again leave Durg at 19:05 hrs and reach Korba at 00:45 hrs, with stoppages at the same intermediate stations.
A separate MEMU Passenger Special, Train 08823, will operate on June 21 from Chhindwara to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari, departing Chhindwara at 18:00 hrs and reaching Itwari at 22:50 hrs, with halts at intermediate stations en route. To provide additional connectivity on the exam day window, SECR has also temporarily extended the Hasdeo Express up to Durg on June 21. Train 18250 (Korba–Raipur Hasdeo Express) will run up to Durg, departing Raipur at 10:45 hrs and reaching Durg at 11:45 hrs via Bhilai Power House (11:20 hrs) and Bhilai Nagar (11:27 hrs). Train 18251 (Raipur–Korba Hasdeo Express) will start from Durg on the same day, departing at 16:30 hrs and proceeding to Korba, with stops including Bhilai Nagar (16:37 hrs) and Bhilai Power House (16:43 hrs). SECR said there is no change in the scheduled timings between Korba–Raipur–Korba on the regular route segment.
Additional General Coaches
In addition to special services, SECR has arranged 40 temporary additional general class coaches across 10 trains to accommodate increased unreserved travel demand. Seven extra general coaches will be added to Train 18249 (Raipur–Korba Hasdeo Express) on June 20, Train 18250 (Korba–Raipur Hasdeo Express) on June 21, Train 18251 (Raipur–Korba Hasdeo Express) from June 21 to 23, and Train 18252 (Korba–Raipur Hasdeo Express) from June 22 to 24. Two additional general coaches will be attached to Train 18247 (Bilaspur–Rewa Express) from June 19 to 21 and Train 18248 (Rewa–Bilaspur Express) from June 20 to 22. Similar two-coach augmentation has been announced for Train 18109 (Tatanagar–Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Express) from June 19 to 21, Train 18110 (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari–Tatanagar Express) from June 21 to 23, Train 18113 (Tatanagar–Bilaspur Express) from June 19 to 21, and Train 18114 (Bilaspur–Tatanagar Express) from June 20 to 22.
Advisory for Candidates
SECR has appealed to NEET-2026 candidates to use the additional services to reach examination centres on time and advised passengers to check updated schedules and halts through the Indian Railways enquiry portal at www.enquiry.indianrail.gov.in.
