NEW DELHI: Amid the festive season rush, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the NDA government for the "inhuman conditions" faced by passengers on trains to Bihar. Gandhi asserted that securing tickets has become nearly impossible, leading to severe overcrowding and unsafe travel conditions.
Gandhi questioned the government's claims of improved transport facilities and the whereabouts of the promised 12,000 special trains. He highlighted the plight of migrant workers, suggesting that the lack of jobs and development in Bihar forces people to travel long distances in search of employment. Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a video showcasing passengers packed into trains and clinging to doors and rooftops. He argued that safe and respectable travel is a right, not a privilege, and that the "helpless travellers" are living proof of the NDA's "deceitful policies and intentions".
In response to Gandhi's criticism, Indian Railways has reiterated its commitment to easing travel during Diwali, Chhath Puja, and Bhai Dooj by running 12,000 special trains. Railways stated that crowds are expected during festivals, and they are striving to ensure passenger convenience.
According to the Railways, over 1.5 crore passengers have traveled on these special trains. Indian Railways has made efforts to enhance passenger safety and comfort, including setting up holding areas at major stations and additional ticket counters. They also have 24/7 deployment for cleanliness, security, and ensuring smooth travel.
The North Eastern Railway (NER) announced that it would operate 186 special trains to manage the passenger surge for Chhath Puja 2025. Nationally, Indian Railways is operating more than 12,000 special trains between October 1 and November 30, 2025. As of October 22, 2025, a total of 11,865 trips (916 trains) have been notified, including 9,338 reserved and 2,203 unreserved trips.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that ensuring every passenger reaches home safely during festivals is their priority and that these trains will serve over 3 million passengers. He also noted that this represents a 56% increase compared to the 7,724 trips operated last year. These special trains mainly operate from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, and the Northeastern states.
Indian Railways is also establishing permanent holding areas at 76 high-footfall stations to improve crowd management and private cloud kitchens to improve meal quality on long-haul journeys.
