Diwali rush: Nagpur-bound trains from Mumbai, Pune full, airfares near Rs 19,000

Students, IT sector employees and other working people living in Mumbai and Pune are finding it harder by the day to come home to Nagpur for Diwali. The number of travellers has risen sharply during the festival season. Tickets on many major trains are not available for the key dates of November 4 to 7. On some routes, airfares have gone up to nearly Rs 19,000.

With the crowds growing, passengers are looking for alternatives. Many hope that Indian Railways will announce special trains for the extra festival rush.

Travel demand between Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur rises sharply every year before Diwali. Thousands of students and working people return home to celebrate the festival with their families. This year, many popular trains are almost full. Booking status on the Mumbai-Nagpur Duronto Express and other major trains is reported to have reached "regret" for some classes and dates, which means bookings are no longer being accepted in those classes.

Those who did not book tickets earlier are finding it increasingly hard to get a confirmed seat. With holiday schedules fixed, many cannot change their travel dates either.

On some trains running on Diwali day, a waiting list is still reported for Mumbai to Nagpur. In some places, however, the waiting list has gone past 100, so passengers are not sure whether their tickets will be confirmed. A waitlisted ticket is not guaranteed a berth or seat. Families travelling together are particularly worried about whether all members will be accommodated.

Those travelling from Pune to Nagpur also have limited seats in the AC and sleeper classes, which has narrowed their options further in the festival rush.

The Vande Bharat Express connecting Pune and Nagpur has also become a preferred choice for festival travel. Passengers are reported to be facing difficulty getting seats around Diwali. The executive chair car fare is about Rs 3,740, yet seats are reported to be limited on high-demand dates.

In view of the expected rush, Central Railway's Nagpur division is reported to have sent a proposal to the railway administration to run additional special trains. The proposal includes two to three trips each on the routes from Nagpur to Mumbai, Pune and Samastipur in Bihar. According to information issued in the name of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Aman Mittal, the division has sent the proposal to Indian Railways and an announcement is expected in the next few days. However, the proposal is not an official approval. Passengers will have to wait for confirmation of train timings, stops and booking dates.

With railway reservations hard to get, passengers who need to reach Nagpur on particular dates are turning to flights. But with demand up, airfares have also risen sharply. According to fare figures quoted for the festival period, Pune to Nagpur costs about Rs 17,697 and Mumbai to Nagpur about Rs 19,028. These fares are beyond the means of students and families. The total airfare for a family of four could exceed Rs 70,000, depending on the fare available at the time of actual booking. Airfares can vary with the date of travel, available seats, the airline and booking conditions.

Nagpur natives working in the IT sector, private companies and other organisations in Mumbai and Pune often depend on the festival holidays to meet their families. Students cannot afford expensive flights, while working people have little room because of fixed leave and work commitments. The situation is even harder for those who were late in booking tickets or planned their trip at the last minute.

The rush is not limited to those coming to Nagpur. After the festival, when employees and students return to their workplaces and places of study, demand for travel from Nagpur to Mumbai and Pune is also expected to rise. Without additional trains, similar booking difficulties could arise on the return journey.

Those coming to Nagpur for Diwali should regularly check the official IRCTC website or app for reservation availability, alternative trains and announcements of special trains. They should compare fares for different dates and check current rates on airline websites. Those relying on waitlisted tickets should check booking status before finalising travel plans.

For now, passengers are waiting for an official announcement of special trains by Central Railway. Until additional trains are confirmed, limited railway seats and high airfares have made Diwali travel to Nagpur expensive and uncertain.