New Delhi: With Chhath Puja around the corner, trains heading from Delhi, Mumbai, and other metro cities to Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal) are witnessing an overwhelming surge in passengers, transforming even reserved coaches into scenes reminiscent of general compartments. Passengers are squeezed into every available space, many standing throughout the journey, and some resorting to sitting in the aisles, by the doors, or even in the toilets. The scramble for seats has turned sleeper and third AC coaches into crowded, cramped spaces.
The holiday rush, which intensifies from Diwali to Chhath Puja, drives thousands to return to their hometowns to celebrate the revered festival with family, pushing train occupancy levels to three times their standard capacity. Unfortunately, this chaotic travel experience has become an annual struggle for passengers from Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities bound for Bihar and Jharkhand.
Airfare Soars as Airlines Cash In on Demand
As travelers pivot from packed trains to flights, airline companies have seized the opportunity to hike fares, in some cases by nearly three times. On Tuesday, the airfare from Delhi to Patna surged from a usual ₹5,000 to a staggering ₹23,000. Similarly, prices for flights from other metro cities to Bihar and Jharkhand destinations have also spiked sharply.
The heavy demand and limited seats have led to eye-watering ticket prices that are now more costly than international flights. For example, while a one-way ticket from Delhi to Patna is priced at ₹23,000, a flight from Delhi to Dubai costs around ₹12,000, and Delhi to Paris is priced at ₹22,500 on November 5. Despite these high prices, flights are still heavily booked, echoing the frenzy seen on the railways.
Domestic Routes Rival International Costs as Holiday Demand Peaks
This dramatic rise in fares isn’t limited to Patna. The price for a Delhi-to-Deoghar flight shot up to ₹14,668 on Tuesday, whereas it usually hovers around ₹5,000. Even on Wednesday, fares remained high, further squeezing travelers who face skyrocketing costs both in the air and on the ground.
The annual Chhath Puja migration shines a spotlight on the strain on India’s transportation infrastructure, with demand far outstripping available capacity. For many, the pilgrimage home comes at a steep price, but the pull of tradition keeps driving countless families to make the journey, however difficult or costly it may be.
