Holiday travel during the festive peak is set to become substantially smoother for rail passengers heading home. To address the overwhelming surge in passenger traffic during Diwali and Chhath Puja, South East Central Railway has introduced dedicated festival special trains running between Gondia and Patna. Operating for three trips in each direction, this service directly benefits travelers commuting across Chhattisgarh and Bihar.
Crucial Stoppages Across Major Chhattisgarh Stations
The route configuration ensures broad regional connectivity, offering convenient boarding points across key industrial and urban hubs. South East Central Railway has designated halts at Gondia, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Raipur, Bhatapara, Bilaspur, Champa, and Raigarh. Passengers across these population centers gain direct boarding options without needing connecting feeder journeys.
Timetable and Schedule from Gondia to Patna
Operating as train number 08895, the Gondia to Patna puja special will run every Friday between November 6 and November 20. The train departs Gondia at 12:30 PM, reaching Bilaspur at 6:00 PM before departing at 6:10 PM. Following its arrival at Raigarh at 8:10 PM, the train completes its journey at Patna the next day at 4:30 PM.
Return Schedule from Patna to Gondia
For the return leg, train number 08896 Patna to Gondia puja special will operate every Saturday from November 7 to November 21. Departing Patna at 6:10 PM, it reaches Bilaspur the following evening at 6:50 PM, departing at 7:00 PM. The service then calls at Raipur at 9:50 PM, Durg at 11:20 PM, and terminates at Gondia at 3:00 AM on the third day.
Coach Composition and Passenger Guidelines
To cater to varying travel preferences, the special service will run with an overall rake of 20 coaches. The configuration includes 10 sleeper coaches, 3 AC three-tier coaches, 1 AC two-tier coach, 4 general unreserved coaches, and 2 SLRD coaches. Travelers have been advised to verify complete timetable updates and halt details on official railway portals, the NTES platform, or the RailOne mobile app prior to boarding.
