Only Waiting list tickets available for most dates between October 9-12 amid puja rush
Passengers planning to travel from Tatanagar to Bhubaneswar by Purushottam Express (train number 12802) during the upcoming Durga Puja week are facing difficulty in securing confirmed reservations, with most dates already showing waiting list status for sleeper class accommodation.
JAMSHEDPUR – With Durga Puja celebrations set to take place from October 10 (Maha Saptami) to October 13 (Vijayadashmi) in 2024, the rush to book train tickets for the festive season has already begun, resulting in limited seat availability on popular routes.
The Purushottam Express, which runs between New Delhi and Tatanagar Junction, has witnessed a surge in demand for tickets from Tatanagar to Bhubaneswar during the puja period.
As per the latest information, sleeper class tickets for the train are currently on waiting list for most dates between October 9 and October 12.
However, as of the time of reporting, there were 54 sleeper class seats still available on the October 8 service from Tatanagar to Bhubaneswar.
A similar situation prevails for the Kalinga Utkal Express (train number 18478), with no sleeper class seats available from Tatanagar to Bhubaneswar on October 11 and 12, and only waiting list tickets being issued.
The train had a meager 3 seats available in the sleeper class on October 10 at the time of this report.
Other classes of accommodation, such as 3AC, 2AC, and 1AC, are also experiencing high demand, with a mix of available seats and waiting list tickets across different dates.
The puja rush has compelled many passengers to book their tickets well in advance to secure confirmed reservations on their preferred dates of travel.
Shashank Shekhar Swain, a member of the Indian Railways Fan Club and a rail, aviation and space enthusiast, said: “ Passengers should plan their journeys accordingly and to keep track of any updates or additional special trains that may be announced to cater to the increased demand during the festive season.
He further added: “With the Durga Puja week being a peak travel period, passengers are encouraged to explore alternative modes of transport or consider traveling on dates with relatively lower demand to avoid inconvenience.”
