Passengers travelling from Ahmedabad and Surat to North India are facing an early Diwali travel crunch, with waiting lists on some trains reaching 100 to 250 and one-way airfares on selected routes rising above ₹20,000, according to a report by Sandesh.
The pressure is being reported ahead of Diwali and Chhath Puja, when many migrant and working households in Gujarat travel to their native places in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. For passengers planning to leave from Ahmedabad, securing a confirmed railway ticket has already become difficult on several routes.
The report said trains from Ahmedabad to Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Delhi and Katra are showing long waiting lists in sleeper class. On some services bound for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the waiting position has reached between 100 and 250. The report did not specify individual train numbers or the exact availability position for each service.
The situation is placing additional pressure on passengers who depend on rail travel for seasonal journeys. When confirmed train tickets are unavailable, air travel becomes the main faster alternative, but the fare difference can be substantial during periods of concentrated demand.
Online fare details cited in the report showed one-way flights from Ahmedabad to Varanasi priced at approximately ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 on some dates in October. For certain dates in early November, the fare was displayed at more than ₹19,000. The report also said one-way fares from Ahmedabad to Patna exceeded ₹20,000 on some November dates.
These figures are displayed fares for selected travel dates and may vary according to availability, booking time and airline. The source report did not identify the airlines, flight numbers or fare conditions attached to the quoted prices. It also did not provide a comparison with additional special trains or services for the festival period.
For passengers, the transport problem is therefore not limited to rail-ticket availability. The alternatives are shaped by the distance to North India, the limited number of seats available on particular travel dates and the cost of last-minute air bookings. Travellers unable to obtain confirmed rail tickets may have to change their dates, use a different destination station or consider air travel at a significantly higher price.
The report places Ahmedabad within a wider seasonal mobility pattern in which large numbers of residents travel out of Gujarat at the same time. It also highlights how capacity constraints in intercity transport can quickly become a household financial issue when rail and air options are not equally affordable.
The immediate next step for passengers is to check availability and fares for their intended dates before finalising travel plans. The Sandesh report did not mention any official railway announcement on additional festival services or any intervention to address the reported waiting lists and airfares.
