Ranchi: Express trains to Ranchi from various parts of the country are reporting a serpentine waiting list of passengers, ahead of the Diwali and Chhath Puja festivities. With trains from major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru already packed, and air fares skyrocketing, families are unsure whether their loved ones would be able to make it home in time for the festivals.As Diwali is scheduled for Nov 8 and Chhath for Nov 13, travellers in large numbers have started booking their tickets to Ranchi to attend the festivities with their families.On Thursday, the waiting list for the New Delhi–Ranchi Rajdhani Express was 267, Anand Vihar-Ranchi Swarna Jayanti Express 123, New Delhi-Garib Rath Express 273, Anand Vihar-Ranchi Special Fare Special 99, Howrah-Ranchi Kriya Yoga Express 61, Howrah- Ranchi Vande Bharat Express 37, and SMVT Bengaluru-Hatia Express 135. Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express from Mumbai to Ranchi stood at 153 while the Hatia Express from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Hatia was 124.“My daughter works in a multi-national company in Delhi. It has been a yearly ritual for her to visit us on Diwali every year. But this year, she is yet to secure a confirmed ticket for home,” said Sarojni Yadav, a Ranchi resident worried if her daughter would be able to visit home.Ranchi Railway Division in early Oct launched seven pairs of festive special trains connecting Ranchi with Ajmer, Alipurduar, Anand Vihar, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Patna.The Ranchi railway division on Thursday extended the operation of the Hatia–Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) weekly puja special train. “Train No. 08609, running from Hatia to LTT, will operate every Monday from Nov 2 to Nov 30. In the return direction, Train No. 08610 will depart from LTT every Tuesday from Nov 3 to Dec 1. The extension aims to provide additional travel options for passengers during the festive season, when demand for train tickets typically rises,” it said in a statement.The surge in train ticket demand has led to a sharp rise in airfares. Tickets for flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to Ranchi have soared, making last-minute travel planning difficult for people staying outside the state.Delhi to Ranchi airfares across airlines have reached up to over Rs 16,000, Mumbai-Ranchi airfare touched Rs 21,000, while Bengaluru-Ranchi flight tickets is Rs 17,000.
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