The East Central Railway has decided to run 34 pairs of special trains to ensure hassle-free travel for passengers leaving Bihar after Chhath.

Madhuresh Kumar, general manager, East Central Railway, conducted a high-level meeting on Tuesday to decide on the special trains. The aim is to tackle the post-festival rush from the state and provide the devotees better and smooth journey back.

People from across the country return to Bihar for Chhath. Anticipating the rush of devotees on their way back to their workplace, the railways have decided on the special trains.

Among the special trains, 11 have been introduced for New Delhi staring from October 29. Five of them are premium trains. Two premium trains will run to Mumbai via Patna and Darbhanga from November 6. Some of the special trains will operate till November 12-13 too.

These trains would be apart from the 300 special trains operating from different parts of the country to Bihar before and after Chhath.

Chief public relations officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said Madhuresh was taking interest in the clearance of the post Chhath rush to help people reach their workplace without any problem.

Madhuresh has also instructed the five divisions of East Central Railway to keep extra rakes at Patna Junction, Darbhanga and Jainagar to clear the festive rush.

The trains, as decided on Tuesday, include three Jansadharan trains and premium trains. The adjoining zones are also running nine special trains, three premium trains and others that would pass through Bihar.

Six special trains will run for Punjab and Katra and eight for Calcutta, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati. Four special trains will run to south India apart from one special each for Surat, Indore and Ahmedabad and between Sitamarhi and Dhanbad. On Friday, special trains will leave for Delhi from Jainagar, Saharsa, Raxaul and Barauni and Patna.

“Monitoring will be ensured and officers are being de- puted for each train. They would ensure that the coaches are clean and the trains leave on time,” he said.