Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: As Congress MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the rush in trains to Bihar, the railways reiterated it was running 12,000 special trains for Diwali, Chhath and Bhai Dooj to ease travel during the festive season. Rahul Saturday claimed on X that trains to Bihar are “packed, tickets are impossible to get, and the journey has become inhuman” during the festival season. “Where are the 12,000 special trains?,” he asked the Centre, as he also shared a video showing overcrowded trains at railway stations on one hand and PM Minister Narendra Modi flagging off trains on the other on a split screen. In response, railways asserted, “Crowds are natural during festivals, but Indian Railways is striving for the convenience of passengers.” Listing its efforts for passenger safety and comfort, railways mentioned holding areas at 30 stations in Bihar for return journeys after Chhath Puja, war rooms and mini control rooms in every zone, and war room at the board level. The Congress neta alleged in his post, “These are not just helpless passengers, they are living proof of the deceitful policies and intentions of the NDA.” Railways in its rebuttal said over 1.5 crore passengers have travelled on special trains; holding areas have been created at major stations, additional ticket counters have been set up, and there is 24×7 deployment for cleanliness, security and ensuring smooth travel. “It is a month of festivals – Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Chhath. In Bihar, these festivals do not just mean faith, they also mean a longing to return home – the smell of soil, the affection of family, the feeling of belonging in the village. But this desire has now become a struggle,” Rahul said. Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh highlighted that Chhath is very special for Bihar and its people. “There was initially a great deal of relief when (PM) Modi and railway minister announced that 12,000 trains would be used to transport people to their homes, but only 1,500 trains were actually run,” he said.
