The arrival of major festive seasons brings with it a powerful urge to return home and celebrate with loved ones. As Diwali and the grand festival of Chhath Puja approach, the excitement among the migrant population from Bihar living in Faridabad and Ballabhgarh is palpable. However, securing a passage home this year is turning out to be an incredibly daunting challenge. Travelers are attempting to secure train bookings nearly two months in advance, yet they find themselves blocked by an overwhelming shortage of seats. The moment the railway reservation system opens, all available berths vanish within a matter of minutes. The desperation has reached a level where hopeful passengers begin queueing outside station ticket windows as early as 2:00 AM, only to watch their hopes of a confirmed ticket disappear shortly after the counters open at 8:00 AM.
Hours of Waiting Ending in Disappointment
The ticket booking counters at Ballabhgarh railway station have become scenes of persistent frustration for many. Devendra Mishra, a commuter who has been trying his luck for several days, shared his struggle, noting that he had visited the station for four consecutive days without any success. He pointed out that those managing the reservation counters frequently pause or leave their stations every five minutes, disrupting the flow of the queue. Prepared with both cash and digital UPI options to expedite the process, he had been joining the line at 4:00 AM, yet he had to return home empty-handed each time. Despite the railway administration introducing a few festival special trains for the Chhath holiday, passengers continue to struggle to secure a spot.
Severe Shortages Across Multiple Rail Routes
The critical shortage of train accommodation is not restricted solely to eastern-bound trains. Lakhan Verma, another traveler at the station, stated that he arrived hoping to book a confirmed ticket to Vaishno Devi but was unable to find one. Similarly, Birbal Kumar, who needed to travel to Bihar on November 11, found himself waiting in a massive line only to face disappointment when his turn arrived. Balram Yadav, a local rickshaw puller operating at the Ballabhgarh railway station, witnesses this daily struggle firsthand. He noted that he regularly sees people assembling in long lines starting from 2:00 AM, yet a vast majority of them end up returning home without any travel confirmation.
Lack of Direct Trains and Recalling Better Times
For Mantun Yadav, a native of Munger in Bihar, traveling home for Chhath Puja is an annual ritual that has now become highly problematic. He explained that while Jamui and Bariarpur are his closest railway stations, there are no direct trains heading to Bihar from Ballabhgarh. As a result, passengers from the region are forced to travel to Delhi's Anand Vihar or New Delhi railway stations to board their trains, adding a heavy burden of transit. Even on his regular route, the Vikramshila Express is so heavily congested that travelers are forced to make hazardous journeys by hanging from the carriage doors. Yadav recalled that the discontinued Toofan Express once provided direct connectivity from Ballabhgarh, easing the travel burden significantly. He also reflected on the tenure of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, remarking that railway management was much more efficient back then, sparing passengers from such extreme travel distress.
