Surge in demand for Bihar-bound trains and buses as Holi nears, passengers face seat shortage
As Holi festivities approach, travelers from Jamshedpur to Bihar struggle to find transportation due to increased demand.
JAMSHEDPUR – With Holi just around the corner, residents of Jamshedpur planning to travel to Bihar are experiencing difficulties in securing seats on both trains and buses, leading to a rush at ticket counters.
The Mango Bus Stand has become a hub of activity, witnessing large gatherings of passengers eager to book their journey back home, reflecting the acute demand for seats.
Trains such as the Purushottam Express, Buxar Express, Chhapra Express, and Ara-South Bihar Express are seeing a significant shortage in seating capacity, affecting passengers’ plans.
Travelers are finding themselves in a position where distinctions between sleeper and third AC classes are becoming irrelevant, as they scramble for any available seat to reach their destinations.
Despite the introduction of Holi special trains by the railways, the expected relief has been minimal, primarily because of the higher ticket prices compared to regular services.
To address the overflow of passengers, the South Eastern Railway Zone has announced the addition of extra chair cars to trains like the Tata-Buxar Express and the Tatanagar-Buxar Express.
Railway authorities are making concerted efforts to alleviate the travel stress by deploying additional sleeper and AC coaches, catering to the heavy passenger load to destinations like Tatanagar, Yesvantpur, and Bengaluru.
Currently, the South Eastern Railway Zone operates seven special trains for Holi, with three originating from Tatanagar to destinations such as Saharsa, Barauni, and Ernakulam, in an attempt to meet the surge in travel demand during the festival period.
